Intermittent Pneumatic Compression device
OVERVIEW
- aka sequential compression devices
USE
- prevent lower limb DVTs in immobile patients
DESCRIPTION
- intermittent pneumatic compression system
- air filled sleeves that surround the lower limb compartments (thighs and calves)
- connected to an air pump
- sequentially inflated
METHOD OF USE
- sleeves wrapped around the patient’s limbs and attached to the pump via air tubes
- cyclic sequential inflation of the sleeves that applies pressure to the underlying muscles (e.g. 10s inflated then 60s deflated)
- inflation pressures:
— up to 50 mmHg at the knee
— up to 35 mmHg at the calf
—up to 30 mmHg at the thigh
COMPLICATIONS
- pressure areas
- exacerbation of ischemia in peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
- exacerbation of compartment syndrome
- potential to trigger PE if applied to limbs where DVTs have already formed
OTHER INFORMATION
- generally well tolerated
- little limb movement restriction
Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC
