Effect of prolonged treatment with compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic sequelae: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Prolonged compression therapy after proximal deep vein thrombosis significantly reduces symptoms and may prevent post-thrombotic skin changes. Whether these findings translate to the prevention of advanced disease states with ulcerations remains unclear.

Efficacy of compression stockings in preventing post-thrombotic syndrome in patients with deep venous thrombosis: a systematic review and metaanalysis

“…Three RCTs were found to have a low risk of bias [14,22,23], one RCT was found to have an uncertain risk of bias in two of the six domains [24], and the remaining RCT was found to have a high risk in one of the six domains [25].…”

“…Table I presents the study and patient characteristics of all RCTs included in this systematic review (detailed infor- [22]; the other trial results were from between 1997 and 2008. In four RCTs, the study personnel were blinded [14,[22][23][24], and in one RCT neither the patients nor the study personnel were blinded [25].…”

“…In one trial [25], all patients wore compression stockings for the fi rst six months after the diagnosis of DVT and patients without PTS six months after diagnosis of DVT were randomized. One group continued to wear compression stockings while the other group did not wear stockings any longer.…”

“…In the study by Ginsberg et al [24], patients started to wear stockings or placebo stockings after one year without PTS after fi rst diagnosis of DVT. Two RCTs compared compression stockings to placebo stockings [22,24] and three RCTs compared compression stockings to no stockings [14,23,25]. The pressure of the applied stockings varied between 20 and 40 mmHg.…”

“…One RCT used Ginsberg's criteria as the outcome score [24], one RCT the Villalta score [23], one RCT both Ginsberg's criteria and the Villalta score [22], one RCT the CEAP classifi cation [25], and one RCT a modifi ed Villalta score [14].…”