Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Sequential Compression Device
A sequential compression device (SCD) uses inflatable boots, cuffs, or sleeves that you wear around your arm, leg, or foot. The boot, cuff, or sleeve inflates at certain time intervals so that air-filled chambers squeeze your limbs or feet. This helps improve blood flow by working like the pumping action normally done by the muscles.
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Your arms, legs, or feet have poor circulation or swelling due to a medical condition, such as chronic venous insufficiency, venous stasis, or lymphedema.
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You are at risk of a blood clot forming in a vein after surgery or if you are on bed rest. Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) can travel to your lungs and cause life-threatening problems. SCDs help prevent blood clots by preventing blood from pooling in your limbs or feet.
Your health care provider will decide when you should use the device, how often it will inflate, and how much pressure it will apply.
Tell a health care provider about:
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Any allergies you have, including any skin allergies to materials such as latex or certain medical tapes.
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All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
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Any bleeding problems you have.
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Any surgeries you have had.
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Any medical conditions you have, including any previous vascular-related conditions such as peripheral vascular disease.
What are the benefits?
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Reduce swelling (edema).
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Improve healing if you have leg or foot ulcers from poor circulation.
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Lower your risk of blood clots.
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Help with discomfort, stiffness, or soreness in your legs or feet, especially after surgery.
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Help you begin walking and recovering sooner after surgery or bed rest.
What are the risks?
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Irritated or sore skin.
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Mild discomfort or warmth and sweating beneath the cuff.
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An injury to the nerve that allows movement and sensation in your lower legs, feet, and toes (peroneal nerve). If the device puts too much pressure on your legs, this nerve may be temporarily affected. If this happens, your ankle may feel numb or weak.
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Compartment syndrome. This is a condition in which too much pressure on your leg makes it hard for blood to reach the muscles of those extremities. This can result in injury to your muscles. The risk of developing this condition is low.
What happens before the treatment?
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A health care provider may measure your limb to make sure you get the right size cuff.
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The boot, cuff, or sleeve can be put on over or under your clothes, whichever is more comfortable.
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If you will wear the cuff or sleeve over clothing, you should wear loose-fitting clothing that is free of zippers, snaps, or buttons. These fasteners may cause discomfort or skin irritation.
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You will lie down on a bed or padded table. SCDs are often used in the hospital setting, especially after surgery, but many times SCDs can now be used at home.
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Your health care provider will place an inflatable boot, cuff, or sleeve around your arm, leg, or foot. This cuff is attached to a machine that is programmed to pump air and inflate the cuff according to rules set by the health care provider.
What happens during the treatment?
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You will lie still with the boot, cuff, or sleeve around your arm, leg, or foot.
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The boot, cuff, or sleeve will inflate around your arm, leg, or foot at a programmed rate. The machine pumps air in and out of the boot, cuff, or sleeve.
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The pump will inflate different sections of the boot, cuff, or sleeve to help blood flow through the veins. The treatment may feel like a massage.
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Tell your health care provider if you feel pain, get too hot, or feel uncomfortable.
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Ask for help if you need to get up. Do not walk with the compression pumps, cuffs, or sleeves in place due to the risk of falling.
The overall treatment time varies, but it may be done multiple times during the day. Your health care provider will determine the best schedule for your needs.
What can I expect after the treatment?
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Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you will be using the device at home, you will also be instructed on how to correctly put on the cuff. Be sure to ask any questions you have about the device or why it is being used.
Contact a health care provider if:
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You develop any pain or numbness in your leg or foot.
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You develop any redness or your skin breaks down where the device touches your skin. This may include scrapes, sores, or cuts in the skin.
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Your device stops working.
Get help right away if:
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Your arm, leg, or foot becomes warm, red, or swollen.
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You have severe pain in your leg or foot.
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You have chest pain.
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You have trouble breathing.
These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Summary
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A sequential compression device is used to improve the blood flow in your arm, leg, or foot.
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The boot, cuff, or sleeve inflates at certain time intervals so that air-filled chambers squeeze your limbs or feet. This helps improve blood flow by working like the pumping action normally done by the muscles.
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This device can help improve circulation, lower the risk of blood clots after surgery, reduce swelling, or improve healing of certain skin wounds and ulcers.
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Contact a health care provider if you develop any skin breakdown, pain, or numbness in your leg or foot.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
