Prevention of venous thrombosis in patients with intracranial disease by intermittent pneumatic compression of the calf

In a randomized study of 128 patients, we evaluated intermittent pneumatic compression of the calf in the prevention of leg scan-detected venous thrombosis in intracranial disease. Pneumatic compression of the calf for 5 days reduced the rate of venous thrombosis from 12 of 63 control patients (19.1 percent) to one of 65 patients (1.5 percent) given prophylaxis (p = 0.00082). In patients who had craniotomy for brain tumor, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or subdural hematomas, calf compression reduced the incidence of venous thrombosis from nine of 49 control patients (18.4 percent) to one of 53 patients (1.9 percent) given prophylaxis (p = 0.0051). In patients who remained at risk after 5 days, the rate of venous thrombosis was no different in the control group than in the group that had received prophylaxis.