Effects of intermittent pneumatic leg compression for prevention of postoperative deep venous thrombosis with special reference to fibrinolytic activity

The mechanism of intermittent pneumatic leg compression for prevention of postoperative deep venous thrombosis was investigated. The incidence of postoperative deep venous thrombosis was studied using iodine-125 fibrinogen in 64 patients with malignant disease who had intermittent pneumatic leg compression for 48 hours postoperatively. Changes in euglobulin lysis time and B beta 15-42 peptide were investigated before and after operation in 16 patients with benign disease, in 27 patients with malignant disease who did not have postoperative intermittent pneumatic leg compression, and in another 29 patients with malignant disease who had postoperative intermittent pneumatic leg compression. The overall incidence of deep venous thrombosis was 6.25 percent. A prolongation of euglobulin lysis time was found postoperatively in all three groups, which was significant in malignant disease groups, although less significant in the group with intermittent pneumatic leg compression when compared with the benign disease group. Preoperatively, a significant increase in B beta 15-42 peptide was found in patients with malignant disease when compared with patients with benign disease. Postoperatively, the B beta 15-42 level increased in the same pattern in all groups and no significant differences in the levels were found among them. A significant shortening of euglobulin lysis time by intermittent pneumatic leg compression, in addition to its hemodynamic effects, is considered an important factor in the prevention of postoperative deep venous thrombosis.