Intermittent pneumatic compression and deep vein thrombosis prevention

Jana Urbankova; Rene Quiroz; Nils Kucher; Samuel Z. Goldhaber

doi:10.1160/TH05-04-0222

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2005; 94(06): 1181-1185
DOI: 10.1160/TH05-04-0222

Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis

Schattauer GmbH

Intermittent pneumatic compression and deep vein thrombosis prevention

A meta-analysis in postoperative patients

Authors

Jana Urbankova

¹Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Rene Quiroz

¹Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Nils Kucher

¹Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Samuel Z. Goldhaber

¹Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Abstract

Summary

Our objective was to overview the effectiveness of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in postoperative patients, using meta-analysis methodology. We searched the Medline, metaRegister of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane database for studies published between 1970 and October 2004. Our inclusion criteria were: 1) randomized controlled trial of IPC versus no prophylaxis, 2) at least 20 patients per group, 3) at least one diagnostic DVT imaging test in all patients, and 4) clinical follow-up for at least the duration of hospitalization. A total of 2,270 patients were included in 15 eligible studies: 1,125 and 1,145 in the IPC and no prophylaxis group, respectively. The included studies formed a total of 16 treatment groups and were conducted in orthopedic (5), general surgical (4), oncologic (3), neurosurgical (3) and urologic (1) patient populations. In comparison to no prophylaxis, IPC devices reduced the risk of DVT by 60% (relative risk 0.40, 95% CI 0.29 – 0.56; p< 0.001). Contemporary randomized trials should be undertaken to test the utility of IPC in hospitalized medical patients as well as combined pharmacological plus IPC prophylaxis in both medical and surgical patients.

Keywords

Deep vein thrombosis - intermittent pneumatic compression - meta-analysis

Full Text

References

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