"Surgical stockings commonly given to stroke patients to prevent blood clots do not work," The Times reported. It said that research has found that compression stockings have no effect in preventing deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in people who have had a stroke. The newspaper said that the stockings should still be used for patients who have had surgery and by people travelling on long-haul flights.
These results are from a large study of over 2,000 patients that showed that those who used the stockings for one month had the same chance of suffering DVT as those who did not (about a one in 10 chance). Patients who wore the stockings were also at
an increased risk of blisters and ulcers.
This trial was large and well designed, and as such it would probably have found an effect from the stockings if they did have one. It provides the best evidence to date that compression stockings are not helpful for stroke patients. As reported, compression stockings are still recommended for patients who have undergone surgery and for some people travelling on long-haul flights.
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Where did the story come from?The research was carried out by a group known as the CLOTS trial collaboration, the chief investigator of which is Professor Martin Dennis from the University of Edinburgh. The research was funded by the Medical Research Council (UK), Chief Scientist Office of Scottish Government, Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, Tyco Healthcare (Covidien) USA, and the UK Stroke Research Network. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet.
