�An original study, promulgated in the September issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), revealed that calibrated compression stockings were victimized incorrectly in 29% of the patients and sized incorrectly in 26% of the patients. These stockings play an important purpose in preventing the shaping of deep vein clots that tin result in pulmonary complications and last. AJN is the largest circulating breast feeding journal in the world, and is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of info and concern intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmaceutics and the pharmaceutical industry.
"Problems with the use and sizing of graduated compression stockings ar common throughout the rural area and this study is one of the number one to consistently analyze the problems and recommend slipway to meliorate practice," aforesaid Elizabeth H. Winslow, PhD, RN, FAAN, Research Consultant, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, TX and lead writer of the study. "Based on the study findings, we recommend that knee-length stockings be the criterion length used and that the breeding of nurses and patients about the proper use of stockings be improved."
This study and previous research found that problems with use and size were more common with the thigh-length stockings and in overweight patients. More patients who had thigh-length stockings found them uncomfortable than did those who had knee-length stockings, and 20% of patients did not understand the stockings' determination. This lack of understanding may play a persona in patients not wear them correctly.
Graduated compression stockings are non elastic support stockings. They were highly-developed based on research showing the optimal amount of graded densification for promoting blood current and reducing the risk of thrombosis. When fitted and used properly, they increase blood flow velocity, reduce the risk of venous wall dilation and intimal tear, improve venous valve office and may reduce coagulability, all of which tether to decreased risk of venous thrombosis, a blood clot that forms in the vein.
Many studies conducted over the past terzetto decades get shown that graduated compaction stockings, put-upon alone or in combination with other external densification devices or medications, significantly reduce the rate of deep-vein thrombosis in post-surgical patients. Research conducted in the 1980s and 1990s suggested that thigh-and knee-length compression stockings are equally effective in reducing deep-vein thrombosis only there ar few recent studies.
"A lot can be done to optimize the benefits of graduated compression stockings and minimize untoward effects," said Debra Brosz, MSN, RN, ONC, NEA-BC, a research worker at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and coauthor of the study. "Knee length stockings have many practical advantages over thigh length in that they lour the risk of problems and health care costs. The improper use and sizing of these stockings and the deficiencies in patient education are of import health care issues."
The Study
The researchers used a comparative, descriptive design to study 142 hospitalized postoperative patients. The sample included (119) women and (23) workforce; the mean age was 57 long time (range 18 to 97 years.) Most of the patients (53%) had gynecologic surgery. A total of 58 patients (41%) had knee, hip, ankle or foot surgery and (6%) had abdominal, back, shoulder or plastic surgery.
Thirty-seven patients had thigh-length and one hundred five had knee-length stockings. To be eligible, patients had to be hospitalized surgical patients 18 years or older; have had surgery within the previous 14 days; have a physician's order for graduated compressing stockings; have the stockings in place at the time of the survey and be in stable condition. The researchers assessed patients' hide, measured their legs, and determined whether there were any problems with the stockings' use. They then compared leg measurements to the manufacturer's sizing chart to mold whether the correct-size stockings had been applied. They also asked patients to rate the comfort of the stockings and to describe their purpose.
About AJN
Founded in 1900, the (AJN) is the largest and most conventional nursing journal in the world. It is promulgated by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (hTTP://www.lww.com/) a leading international publisher for healthcare professionals and students with nigh 300 periodicals and 1,500 books in more than 100 disciplines publishing under the LWW brand, as well as content-based sites and online corporate and customer services. LWW is office of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading multinational publishing company and info services company.
About Wolters Kluwer Health
Wolters Kluwer Health (Conshohocken, PA), a division of Wolters Kluwer, is a leading provider of data and business intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, drugstore and the pharmaceutical industry. Major brands include traditional publishers of medical and drug reference tools and textbooks, such as Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and Facts & Comparisons�; electronic information providers, such as Ovid, Medi-Span� and ProVation; and pharmaceutical information providers such as Adis International and Source�. Wolters Kluwer Health has annual revenues (2007) of $1,044 million (�761 million) and employs or so 2,700 employees globally. For more information, visit http://www.wkhealth.com/.
Source: Amanda Geer
American Journal of Nursing
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