Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in the postoperative setting with about half of the population at moderate risk. VTE, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a life-threatening complication. DVT, that is, the development of thrombi within the deep veins of the legs, can be complicated by PE, resulting from the movement of these thrombi from the veins of the legs to the pulmonary artery or its branches. This PE is known to be one of the most common preventable causes of in-hospital death after surgery, and clinicians should be aware that thromboprophylaxis reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of VTE and VTE-related mortality [1, 2]. The high incidence of VTE and the current availability of effective prevention methods indicate that thromboprophylaxis should be considered for most surgical patients [3].