Compression stocking length effects on arterial blood pressure and heart rate following head-up tilt in healthy volunteers.

Abstract

Change in posture from supine to standing induces a footward fluid shift. This shift might decrease arterial pressure (AP) and induce orthostatic hypotension. To prevent decrease in AP, compression stockings are recommended, but the effects of various lengths have not been compared. The aim was to compare AP and heart rate (HR) by compression stocking length during head-up tilt (HUT). The effects of elastic compression stockings of three lengths on AP and HR were examined at the onset of HUT. The stockings were knee-high, compressing the foot and calf; thigh-high, compressing the toe to the thigh; and waist-high, compressing the toe to the waist. AP did not significantly change at the onset of HUT without stockings or with any length of stockings compared with the AP in the supine position. HR was significantly higher at the onset of HUT without stockings and with the knee-high and thigh-high stockings than that during supine position. No significant difference in HR was observed among the three conditions. However, the HR increase was significantly depressed with the waist-high stockings. These results suggest that the use of waist-high stockings that afford abdominal compression is needed to affect cardiovascular dynamics at the onset of HUT and may prevent orthostatic hypotension.