Comparison of Simultaneous and Alternate Bilateral Pneumatic Compression in Hemodynamic Effects and Thromboprophylaxis After Total Knee Arthroplasty

57 patients who underwent TKA without thromboprophylaxis were randomized to receive one of two intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) therapies for prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT): alternate sequential compression or simultaneous sequential compression. The purpose of the study was to compare hemodynamic parameters and the incidence of DVT between treatments to determine if one system was significantly more efficacious. There were no differences in the incidence of DVT between the two groups. The simultaneous compression group showed a greater augmented peak volume flow, expelled peak volume, and expelled total volume at 5-day follow-up, but no other significant differences in hemodynamic parameters were observed between groups. Despite these differences, connections could not be established between physiological effects of IPC and the incidence of DVT.