Compression Stockings and their Effect on the Venous Pump — A Comparative Study

Abstract

A prospective study of 45 patients with venous insufficiency. The patients were divided into four different groups that were comparable in venous function, age and sex distribution. The effect of four different conventional compression stockings was evaluated by their clinical effect and the effect upon the musculo-venous pump as assessed by ambulatory strain-gauge plethysmography, over a 6-week treatment period. In this patient category, there could not be demonstrated any additional benefit of increasing compression, and patient acceptability was concomitantly reduced with increasing pressure. The pressure exerted by the stockings was assessed by the Borgnis Medical Stocking Tester, and pressures were found to increase in the upright position with an increase in the concomitant pressure gradient between ankle and knee.

Ambulatory strain‐gauge plethysmography and blood volume scintimetry for quantitative assessment of venous insufficiency

“…3). This fact may also explain why no effect was found on EV in a comparative study with compression therapy in patients with varicose veins (Struckmann, 1986). This information is new and is probably applicable to all methods that quantitate the venous muscle pump by external volume registration.…”

“…Apparently the more solid tissue in the limb tends to buffer the volume changes representing EV. This fact may also explain why no effect was found on EV in a comparative study with compression therapy in patients with varicose veins (Struckmann, 1986).…”

“…(Struckmann, 1986(Struckmann, , 1987Struckmann et al, 1986). (Struckmann, 1986(Struckmann, , 1987Struckmann et al, 1986).…”

“…Non-invasive volumetric methods have been applied to quantitate the venous muscle pump and to asses different treatments in patients with venous insufficiency. (Struckmann, 1986(Struckmann, , 1987Struckmann et al, 1986). All methods refer to a correlation between external volume changes and pressure changes within the venous system, which for ASGP has been found to be adequate (Struckmann, 1985).…”

Graduated Compression Treatment in Patients with Chronic Venous Insufficiency: A Study Comparing Low and Medium Grade Compression Stockings

“…There is good evidence that compression treatment helps to reduce symptoms [7] and probably improves venous function. Whether in the long run the risk of a venous ulcer is also reduced has not been studied.…”