Riassunto dello studio

One hundred and twenty-three patients with moderate or high venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk undergoing knee arthroplasty were randomized to receive either continuous graduated pneumatic compression (CGPC) (n=62) or intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) (n=61). The primary outcome was the blood velocity of the femoral vein measured by Doppler ultrasound. Secondary outcomes included hemodynamics of the femoral and popliteal veins (flow, diameter, cross-sectional area), quality of life at discharge and 30 days, incidence of VTE up to 30 days, and adverse events. Outcomes were assessed up to 30 days post-surgery. Overall, the results of the study revealed that CGPC significantly increased blood flow in the femoral and popliteal veins compared to IPC but did not significantly differ in femoral vein velocity, quality of life, or incidence of VTE. These findings suggest that CGPC may be a promising alternative for improving venous blood flow and potentially reducing venous congestion in arthroplasty patients.