NCT01862471

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Versus Intermittent Pneumatic Compression for Blood Flow

Improved Lower Limb Haemodynamics Using Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES); Potential Novel DVT Prophylaxis

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a life threatening condition and a serious concern among hospitalized patients, with death occurring in approximately 6% of cases. It involves the formation of a clot where stagnant blood flow occurs, predominantly in the deep veins of the legs. Three mechanisms underlie DVT, venous stasis (slowing or stopping of the blood), hypercoagulability (increased clotting) and damage to blood vessel endothelium (damage to blood vessel wall), collectively known as Virchow's triad. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) have been shown to improve lower limb blood flow. However, few studies have directly compared the two methods and those that have, have used outdated NMES devices. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a modern NMES device to intermittent pneumatic compression in terms of blood flow.

Conditions

• Venous Thrombosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation	Frequency of 36Hz, a balanced biphasic waveform with a pulse width of 350μs, a ramp up time of 500ms, a contraction time of 1s and a ramp down time of 500ms.
DEVICE	Intermittent Pneumatic Compression	Programmed to deliver compression every 20 seconds at a pressure of 130mmHg for a 1 second duration over a period of 5 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-05-01
• Primary completion: 2013-06-01
• Completion: 2013-06-01
• First posted: 2013-05-24
• Last updated: 2013-06-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Ireland