What are acute care DVT pumps?
Acute care DVT pumps are primarily used in the acute hospital setting for the treatment of blood clots. The pump mimics regular walking-like activities by altering leg compression. The standard DVT pump has a cycle time of 12 seconds of inflation and 48 seconds of deflation. The cycle timing provides effective movement of venous blood out of the limb, while allowing adequate time for venous refill prior to the next inflation cycle. The recommended pressure setting is 40 mmHg. The garments extend from the ankle to below the knee or from the ankle to the upper thigh. The purpose of this pump is to move blood in the veins, thereby preventing venous stasis and stimulating fibrinolytic activity. This aids in the treatment of DVTs and the life-threatening condition of a clot forming and dislodging to the lung, called a pulmonary emboli (PE). This type of pump is most often used in the acute care setting until the patient is fully ambulatory (walking at least five minutes every waking hour).
