Intermittent compression units for the postphlebitic syndrome. A pilot study
- 1 July 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of internal medicine (1960)
- Vol. 149 (7) , 1651-1652
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.149.7.1651
Abstract
The postphlebitic syndrome is a common affliction with limited therapeutic options. Patients who fail to respond to treatment with graded elastic compression stockings often develop a chronic pain syndrome manifested by intractable pain and swelling. Because lymphedema, a condition also associated with leg pain and swelling, has been successfully treated by intermittent compressive therapy with an extremity pump, we conducted a pilot study of compressive therapy in patients with severe postphlebitic syndrome. All five patients studied had dramatic improvement in symptoms and functional status without side effects. Although a large randomized trial is needed to properly evaluate compressive therapy, it appears to be very effective in selected patients.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: