Prospective Comparison of the Pneumatic Cuff and Manual Compression Methods in Diagnosing Lower Extremity Venous Reflux

Abstract

Pneumatic cuff and manual compression were shown to be equally effective in diagnosing venous reflux. Cost-effectiveness and ease-of-use studies comparing these methods are justified.

Quantifying the Degree Graduated Elastic Compression Stockings Enhance Venous Emptying

“…The concept of improving venous outflow with compression to facilitate an investigation is a well-established principle in venous diagnosis. 6,18 Accurate measurements of venous volume are the cornerstone for all measurements derived from the outflow curve. The current study examined healthy subjects in the supine position throughout and used the plateau achieved after 80 mmHg compression as the maximal volume.…”

“…This was attached to a 12-cm wide thigh-cuff (Hokanson) and has been validated as an effective device in providing sustained compression with an instant release foot pedal for deflation. 6 The electrical output from the APG air pump was fed into the WinDaq apparatus from DataQ. This provides highly sensitive recording and data analysis software from which the changes in calf volume were calculated.…”

Experimental validation of the Paraná manoeuvre compared to the squeezing test

“…The conventional calf compression and release manoeuvre or squeezing test (ST) is generally practiced in many vascular labs and is performed by a sequence of compression and release of the calf, with several variants constituted for instance by the manual compression or instead the standardized pneumatic compression by means of a cuff [1][2][3][4] . Its execution is generally simple, one of the limitation being given by a big calf circumference, which cannot be easily compressed by a small hand.…”

“…Indeed, the AUC (cm) was considered dependent in a linear way and through the (assumed constant) area section on the mobilized blood volume (cm 3 ). Thus, in the comparisons ST vs. P, the AUC values could be interpreted as blood volume values, ejected in systole or refluxing in diastole, i.e.…”

Observer Agreement of Lower Limb Venous Reflux Assessed by Duplex Ultrasound Scanning using Manual and Pneumatic Cuff Compression in Patients with Chronic Venous Disease and Controls

“…A recent study compared a new pneumatic cuff inflation/deflation device with manual compression in the diagnosis of venous reflux. 10 The aim of this study was to evaluate the observer agreement between two experienced ultrasound operators examining deep venous reflux assessed by duplex ultrasound, using either manual or pneumatic cuff compression in the standing position. In addition, the two methods were compared with each other with regard to immediate "eyeballing" and direct measurements of reflux time from ultrasound Doppler flow curves.…”