ISCT involves the use of a garment made up of a number of chambers that fill with air in sequence. ISCT aims to gently massage this excess fluid from the interstitial spaces back into the venous and lymphatic vessels. If an individual has restricted movement in the lower limbs and blood is not being propelled effectively through the veins fluid can escape into the interstitial spaces, resulting in oedema. Repeated contraction and relaxation of the calf muscle which takes place during exercise is important to maintain satisfactory blood flow in the deep veins of the lower leg (Hoffman, 1995). As a number of patients had expressed an interest in buying an ISCT system, staff at the unit decided to evaluate the impact of a model which would be appropriate for use at home. Patients are usually admitted to the unit for two weeks to improve and maintain functional ability and independence, and ISCT often forms part of the treatment.
#Sequential compression skin#
Poorly managed dependent oedema can also result in skin and tissue changes, ranging from dry flaky skin in uncomplicated oedema to hyperkeratosis in cases of chronic swelling (Veitch, 1993). However, it is important that it should be treated, as swollen limbs may result in heaviness, discomfort, further reduction in mobility and impaired function (Mortimer, 1995). Dependent oedema of the lower limbs is a symptom of reduced mobility which is often overlooked in patients with these conditions. The community rehabilitation unit at St Mary's Hospital in Leeds caters for patients with a variety of neurological conditions - for example, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and cerebral vascular accident, all of which can result in reduced levels of mobility. Intermittent sequential compression therapy (ISCT) is effective in reducing oedema of the lower limbs (Vowden, 2001) and can improve circulation of blood in the affected areas (Sayegh, 1987). CHOP is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the clinical pathways, or for any outcomes a patient might experience where a clinician consulted one or more such pathways in connection with providing care for that patient.Monica Carcary, RGN, is a primary nurse, Community Rehabilitation Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Leeds
CHOP does not represent or warrant that the clinical pathways are in every respect accurate or complete, or that one or more of them apply to a particular patient or medical condition.
#Sequential compression professional#
These clinical pathways are intended to be a guide for practitioners and may need to be adapted for each specific patient based on the practitioner’s professional judgment, consideration of any unique circumstances, the needs of each patient and their family, and/or the availability of various resources at the health care institution where the patient is located.Īccordingly, these clinical pathways are not intended to constitute medical advice or treatment, or to create a doctor-patient relationship between/among The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (“CHOP”), its physicians and the individual patients in question.
The clinical pathways are based upon publicly available medical evidence and/or a consensus of medical practitioners at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (“CHOP”) and are current at the time of publication. Use of this site is subject to the Terms of Use. ©2023 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved. If you have questions about any of the clinical pathways or about the process of creating a clinical pathway please contact us.
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