[Postoperative deep venous thrombosis prevention with intermittent sequential compression].

The euglobulin lysis time (ELT) in antecubital vein and femoral vein was investigated in 35 patients before and after bilateral intermittent sequential leg compression for one hour. After compression, ELT in antecubital vein was shortened, and that in femoral vein was significantly shortened (p less than 0.05). beta-thromboglobulin, fibrinopeptide B beta 15-42 and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor were also investigated, but no significant change was found after compression. The mean and peak blood velocity of the femoral vein before and during compression was measured using Doppler ultrasound in 20 patients. The mean blood velocity increased about 183% (p less than 0.001), and the peak blood velocity also increased 178% (p less than 0.001). ELT was measured pre- and post-operatively in 31 patients who had intermittent sequential compression during operation and succeeding two days and in 31 controls which had no compression. Both in antecubiltal vein and in femoral vein, ELT in the compression group was significantly shorter than that of control group in the first postoperative day. This study demonstrates that intermittent sequential compression of the legs increased fibrinolytic activity, and this effect may contribute to the prevention of deep venous thrombosis.