FROM THE JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY: VENOUS AND LYMPHATIC DISORDERS
The use of an adaptive pneumatic compression device showed comparable results to compression stockings in a two-arm, randomized multicenter pilot study of previously noncompliant patients with chronic venous disease.
In addition, patient satisfaction regarding ease of use was higher in for the device, compared with the stockings, according to Fedor Lurie, MD , PhD, of the Jobst Vascular Institute, Toledo, Ohio, and his colleague.
A total of 89 subjects with unilateral or bilateral chronic venous insufficiency were randomized and included in the final analysis of the study . The patients comprised 44% women, with a median age of nearly 63 years, the majority (53%) of whom had bilateral chronic venous insufficiency ( J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2017 Sep;5[5]:699-706 ).
Significantly more patients found the ACTitouch device easy to apply (71%) versus the compression stockings (37.5%; P = .0001) and easy to remove (89% vs. 59%; P = .0001). However, compliance and average time of use were not significantly different between the two treatment groups.
In terms of limb volume reduction, the device group demonstrated a significant volume reduction (44%), compared with the standard compression garment use (17%) in obese patients (P = .019) but not in nonobese patients.
The device was easy to put on and remove and was considered comfortable, according to the researchers. “These are characteristics usually associated with good potential for long-term acceptance by patients. The observed trend that suggested an associated benefit in achieving limb volume reduction (magnified in obese patients) was greater with the AT device than with [compression stockings],” the researchers concluded.
Tactile Medical, which manufactures the device, was the study sponsor and provided funding for the study costs. The authors received no specific funding for their work.
