Recent Research in IPC for Lower Limb Ischemia

Lower limb ischemia caused by Peripheral Arterial Disease is a hot topic in medicine. Intermittent pneumatic compression therapy is being used to treat patients with ischemic limbs where conventional treatments (namely surgery) fail or cannot be used.

If you are interested in learning more about arterial pneumatic compression pump therapy to treat ischemic ulcers, ACI Medical encourages you to explore the growing research surrounding the ArtAssist® device.

The latest research comes from a presentation at the Society of Vascular Surgery Annual Meeting in June 2015. Excerpt from abstract:

Enhancing Neovascularization in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Objectives: The shear stress stimulus needed to switch on arteriogenesis, attenuated in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLI), can be restored with intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC). IPC also increases inflow of
oxygenated nutritive blood, clears waste products of metabolism, and enhances the traffic of elements needed for neovascularization (NV). The circulating progenitor cell (CPC) population is also depressed in CLI. We hypothesize that NV will be promoted by IPC and CPC mobilization.

Continue reading…

Additional research begins to explore the effect of leg IPC on nitric oxide (NO) levels in the arm. Excerpt from abstract:

The effect of intermittent pneumatic compression of legs on the levels of nitric oxide related species in blood and on arterial function in the arm

Background: Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) of legs exerts beneficial local vascular effects, possibly through local release of nitric oxide (NO). However, studies demonstrating systemic transport of nitrogen oxide species and release of NO prompt the question of whether IPC could also exert nonlocal effects. We tested whether IPC (1) affects systemic levels of nitrite, S-nitrosothiols and red blood cell (RBC) NO, and (2) exerts vasoactive effects in the brachial artery (BA), although this hypothesis-generating pilot study did not investigate cause and effect relationship between (1) and (2).

Continue reading…

Additional studies surrounding the treatment of lower limb ischemia with IPC can be found on the Clinical Studies page under the Limb Salvage & CLI heading.

Contact ACI Medical to discuss all aspects of arterial IPC treatment, from ongoing research to how patients can easily obtain the ArtAssist® device for home use:

Toll Free (888) 453-4356 or info@acimedical.com

Oct 21, 2015 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD

Health Technology Assessment of IPC in Ireland is Challenged by Surgeon

ArtAssist Device collateral artery growth

ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device®

Intermittent pneumatic compression (referred to as IPC)

As a pioneering technology, ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device® faces resistance in the medical community at large. In this case, Ireland’s Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) cites the “lack of high quality, reliable evidence to support the widespread adoption of this technology” in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

The ArtAssist® device has been clinically shown to drastically improve circulation in patients with limb-threatening ischemia, a result of advanced peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Many doctors, including Mr. Sultan at the Galway Clinic, prescribe ArtAssist® device therapy to patients who are not candidates for surgical intervention.

Understandably, doctors responsible for the well-being of their patients may be skeptical of new technologies such as IPC to treat PAD. The fact remains, however, that the only “widespread” course of action after failed attempts at revascularization is amputation of the limb. Since PAD often affects the aged population, the aftermath of amputation can be extremely detrimental to a patient’s quality of life in addition to being a financial burden on the state.

Mr. Sultan, in response to the HTA report:

Mr. Sherif Sultan, Galway Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon

“The question is, is it a safe procedure, does it save limbs, does it decrease pain and does it control ulcers? The answer in all these cases is yes.”

Mr. Sultan continues to say that he has saved over 500 limbs with this IPC technology over the past eight years, which would have otherwise been scheduled for amputation. Furthermore, numerous studies on this device have been published in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, a peer reviewed medical journal. The cost of renting the machine for three months is comparable to one night in a hospital bed.

To read the article in full, please visit: http://www.imt.ie/news/latest-news/2013/07/hta-on-ipc-is-challenged-by-surgeon.html?doing_wp_cron

Jul 15, 2013 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD

“Quantified hemodynamics of compression garments” involving APG® Air Plethysmograph presented at ACP 2012

At this year’s 26th Annual Congress of the American College of Phlebology, one presentation will explore the recent clinical evidence gathered by a conglomeration of San Diego-area vein clinics and medical device manufacturers. This clinical trial attempts to determine the hemodynamic differences between elastic versus inelastic compression garments using ACI Medical’s APG® Air Plethysmograph, a non-invasive venous diagnostic device.

Sponsors: La Jolla Vein Care, ACI Medical & CircAid® by Medi

26 Years of Venous Education

The ACP recognized the need for quality venous education twenty-six years ago and continues to fulfill on its mission of providing original education for an advancing specialty.
The ACP’s 26th Annual Congress will provide vein health practitioners with the latest techniques, innovative and engaging content, interaction with respected faculty from around the world and opportunities for all levels of skill and knowledge to gain the tools needed to improve patient care.
Join us November 15-18, 2012 at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, FL for this important program.

via ACPCongress.org

Nov 7, 2012 By acimedical APG®

“Rapid” compression technique to treat PAD

Rapid Compression: How Fast is Fast Enough?

Compression pump systems for peripheral arterial disease treatment and wound care are becoming more and more popular these days. As more people seek treatment for conditions caused by poor circulation, the number of cases contraindicated for surgical intervention also rises. So, to find an alternative to amputation, some medical device makers are advertising their pumps as a solution.

In general, here’s what you’ll see:

Cuffs/sleeves: can cover the foot & calf or just the calf
Pressure: 90 – 120 mmHg

Here’s a secret, though: most of these “arterial pumps” are nothing but DVT prophylaxes or lymphedema pumps that are modified to exert more pressure. Minor adjustments such as these have been largely untested in a clinical setting and therefore yield fairly unpredictable results.

ACI Medical is the only device maker to have uncovered the most important aspect of compression therapy as a means of treating PAD: rapid compression (under 0.5 seconds) that serves as a close physiological substitute for brisk walking.

Unlike all other compression pumps, ACI Medical’s ArtAssist® Arterial Assist Device® was engineered on the premise of understanding the underlying physiology of increasing arterial blood flow and focusing on results that will benefit patients with critical limb ischemia. Since developers and researchers understood how important exercise was for patients with arterial disease, they engineered a device that would bring the important physiological benefits of walking to patients with limited mobility.

Early physiological studies led by Dr. Paul van Bemmelen, Professor Andrew Nicolaides, and others showed a great understanding of the vascular system of the legs. When we exercise, our calf muscles push blood rapidly through the veins to the heart where it can be recycled and directed back towards the leg muscles with essential nutrients. Therefore, in patients who have difficulty walking, it was essential to emulate the calf muscle’s role in pumping blood without having the patient do exercise.

So, when a patient uses the ArtAssist® device, it is as if the device system is “walking” for them. Patients do not experience pain and, over a period of about three months, benefits become long-term.

The real experts on Arterial Pump Technology are only a click or call away. Email info@acimedical.com or call toll free (888) 4 LEG FLO

Relevant clinical trials using the ArtAssist® device:

Rapid Intermittent Compression Increases Skin Circulation in Chronically Ischemic Legs with Infra-popliteal Arterial Obstruction.
van Bemmelen, P.S.; Weiss-Olmanni, J. and Ricotta, J.J. Div. of Vascular Surgery, State University of New York, Stony Brook.
VASA 2000;29:47-52

The Contributions of Arterial and Venous Volumes to Increased Cutaneous Blood Flow During Leg Compression. Eze, A.R.; Cisek, P.L.; Holland, B.S.; Comerota, A.J. Jr.; Veeramasuneni, R.; and Comerota, A.J. Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Charlotte and Gastonia, North Carolina. Annals of Vascular Surgery, 1998;12:182-186

Effects of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression of the Calf and Thigh on Arterial Calf Inflow: A Study of Normals, Claudicants, and Grafted Arteriopaths. Delis, K.T.; Husmann, J.W.; Cheshire, N.J.; and Nicolaides, A.N. Imperial College School of Medicine, St. Mary’s Hospital, London, UK. Surgery, 2000, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 188-195

Sep 25, 2012 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD