Effects of medical compression stockings on venous haemodynamics

Summary

Introduction: Although photoplethysmography (PPG) has become well-established in routine phlebology practice, its use in addressing sophisticated scientific questions – such as the effect of medical compression stockings on venous haemodynamics – has to be evaluated critically.

Methods: We conducted a literature review.

Results: Even though most of the studies presented here are somewhat old, they show that the ready availability and simple performance of PPG have led to its extensive use in clinical trials, although there is little critical use of the data collected. Using PPG on the stockinged leg is highly problematic, but PPG probes with very high-intensity emitted light represent a real advance in this respect, as illustrated by an example. In our opinion, PPG cannot replace colour duplex ultrasonography and invasive venous pressure measurements for precise clinical and scientific investigations.

Conclusion: If carried out carefully and evaluated critically, PPG is certainly of value in more extensive studies. There is a clear need for further scientific elucidation.

Keywords

Photoplethysmography - compression stockings - haemodynamics - compression

• Literatur

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