Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) pumps and garments provide a safe and effective method of preventing Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) by replicating what the body does naturally.

VTE is a disease that includes both Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE).

IPC pumps help to mitigate not one, but two of the risk factors associated with VTE development: venous stasis and hypercoagulability.

The inflation-deflation cycle of IPC therapy simulates the thigh, calf and foot's natural ambulatory pump action increasing both the volume and rate of blood flow, eliminating venous stasis and replicating the effects of the natural muscle pump.1

This benefits non-ambulatory patients by:

decreasing venous hypertension;
flushing valve pockets where thrombi are thought to have originated; and
decreasing interstitial oedema.2
IPC delivers the dual hematological benefits of suppressing pro-coagulant activation and enhancing global fibrinolysis.3

This mechanical method of VTE prevention presents no risk of bleeding and can be used to complement pharmacological methods to increase effectiveness in high risk patients. The well established and globally recognized Flowtron® brand has been steadily evolving over the past 30 years, providing effective VTE prevention products.

During this time, a number of independent international clinical studies have compared Arjo Flowtron VTE prophylaxis systems with other VTE prevention methods. Results show that Flowtron IPC therapy provides a cost effective VTE prevention method, while avoiding side effects such as bleeding.

Clinical studies of Arjo Flowtron IPC systems for VTE prevention have consistently resulted in low occurrences of DVT in high risk groups.4

References
1. Morris RJ, Woodcock JP (2004). Evidenced based compression: prevention of stasis and deep vein thrombosis. Annals of Surgery; 239(2): 162-171.

2. Kumar S, Walker M. The effects of intermittent pneumatic compression on the arterial and venous system of the lower limb: a review. Journal of Tissue Viability. 2002; 12(2): 58-65.

3. Morris RJ, Giddings JC, Ralis HM, Jennings GM, Davies DA et al (2006). The influence of inflation rate on the hematologic and hemodynamic effects of intermittent pneumatic compression for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis. Journal of Vascular Surgery; 44(5): 1039-1045.

4. DVT rate collated from published results relating to Flowtron studies, including blood flow, fibrinolytic and compliance studies: 1992-2007.