Publication:
Posture, blood velocity in common femoral vein, and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism
Posture, blood velocity in common femoral vein, and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism
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Date
1995
Authors
Ashby E.C.
Ashford N.S.
Campbell M.J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Lancet
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Might leg elevation and avoidance of poor postures provide better prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism than heparin or mechanical methods? 12 supine subjects tilted in 3° increments from 6° leg-down to 12° leg-up showed linear increase in mean peak blood velocity and reduction in calibre in the common femoral vein (colour-duplex ultrasound). Between horizontal and 6° leg-up, velocity was increased by 17% and diameter reduced by 14%. A ranking of mean peak velocities in six postures (sitting; standing; trunk raised 35° to legs which were first horizontal and then tilted up 6°; supine, first horizontal then 6° leg-up) showed significant increases in velocity between consecutive positions.
Description
We thank Dr G Comstock and Dr Karen Bandeen-Roche for advice on the paper; Dr C Sanchez, Ms J B Phu, Ms D Sara, and Ms Atenas for technical support; the community of Las Pampas de San Juan for their cooperation; and Mr Patrick Heagerty for computer software. The study was supported by CONCYTEC, Peru, and the RG-ER fund.
Keywords
vein thrombosis,
heparin,
article,
blood flow velocity,
body posture,
color ultrasound flowmetry,
femoral vein,
priority journal,
sitting,
standing,
thromboembolism,
Adult,
Aged,
Blood Flow Velocity,
Female,
Femoral Vein,
Human