Anterior Tibial Compartment Pressures During Intermittent Sequential Pneumatic Compression Therapy

We studied the anterior tibial compartment pressures during the application of a JOBST sequential intermit tent pneumatic compression device on 5 healthy human volunteers (10 legs). Intracompartmental pressures were measured using a slit catheter. The measure ments of interstitial pressures were highest at maximal calf inflation, and pressures were increased for approxi mately 120 seconds during each cycle. Pressure mea surements in the inflated pressure sleeve varied less than 10% with the measured anterior tibial compartment pressures during intermittent pneumatic compression therapy. This intermittent pneumatic compression de vice may elevate intramuscular pressure significantly above that necessary to render muscle ischemic. How ever, these periods of pressure elevation are not long enough to produce any significant adverse effects, and the beneficial effects of decreased edema fluid may be safely realized.