RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to compare venous blood flow velocity of intermittent pneumatic compression to electrical stimulation of the foot. A prospective randomized controlled study of 40 healthy volunteers was conducted. Subjects were seated for 4 hours during which they received electrical stimulation of the sole of the foot or intermittent pneumatic compression of the foot... Short-term electrical foot stimulation is at least as effective as foot intermittent pneumatic compression in increasing popliteal and femoral blood flow velocity. [corrected] Popliteal and femoral venous blood flow velocities were measured via Doppler ultrasonography. Blood flow velocity in the nonstimulated or noncompressed lower extremity served as a simultaneous control. For both the femoral and popliteal veins, the electrical foot stimulation group exhibited a greater increase in blood flow velocity than the intermittent pneumatic compression group. Electrical foot stimulation was noninferior relative to standard intermittent pneumatic compression. Specifically, this result of a greater increase in blood flow velocity is achieved at time = 120 minutes for the femoral vein (t = 2.70; p = .005) and time = 120 (t = 2.75; p = .004) and 240 (t = 2.27; p = .014) minutes for the popliteal vein. Short-term electrical foot stimulation is at least as effective as knee-high intermittent pneumatic compression in increasing popliteal and femoral blood flow velocity. Electrical foot stimulation has the potential to be an effective method of deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Estimulación Eléctrica , Vena Femoral/fisiopatología , Pie/inervación , Aparatos de Compresión Neumática Intermitente , Obesidad/fisiopatología , Vena Poplítea/fisiopatología , Trombosis de la Vena/prevención & control , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Velocidad del Flujo Sanguíneo , Terapia por Estimulación Eléctrica/efectos adversos , Femenino , Vena Femoral/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Aparatos de Compresión Neumática Intermitente/efectos adversos , Flujometría por Láser-Doppler , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Satisfacción del Paciente , Vena Poplítea/diagnóstico por imagen , Estudios Prospectivos , Flujo Sanguíneo Regional , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del Tratamiento , Ultrasonografía Doppler , Trombosis de la Vena/fisiopatologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of thromboprophylactic transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TpTENS) of the peroneal nerve on venous blood flow in the limbs of volunteers. TpTENS might be considered for use in preventing venous stasis during surgical treatment. METHODS: In 10 volunteers, peak venous velocity (PV) and flow volume (FV) in the popliteal vein were measured using duplex ultrasonography during calf-muscle stimulation. The effects of TpTENS of the peroneal nerve were compared with those of other mechanical methods, including electrical muscle stimulation, intermittent pneumatic compression, active ankle motion and calf squeeze, used to prevent venous stasis and achieve thromboprophylaxis. RESULTS: TpTENS had similar effects on popliteal vein blood flow in comparison with other established methods of thromboprophylaxis. The PV increased its basal flow by 3.9 times (p < 0.01) and FV by 2.7 times (p < 0.01), respectively, compared with baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: TpTENS is as effective as other electrical and mechanical methods of calf-muscle pump activation in achieving acceleration of venous flow in the lower limb.