News
Development of compression therapy
„To clarify open questions on an international level“, 17.05.2005
Numerous new developments can be expected in compression therapy in the next few months as the World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology (IUP) will show, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro from 2nd to 7th October. Prof. Dr. Hugo Partsch is Past President of IUP and member of the jury of the 3rd Bauerfeind Scientific Phlebology Award (BSPA). As head of the dermatology department of the Wilhelminenspital hospital in Vienna, Prof. Partsch has developed the department into a centre for phlebological and angiological diseases.
Bauerfeind AG: The IUP World Congress will take place in Rio de Janeiro in October this year. What kind of impetus do you expect from this event?
Prof. Dr. Partsch: As far as compression therapy is concerned, I expect an internationally accepted clarification of open questions: What compression pressures and elastic properties do we need for which indications? How are we going to measure these decisive parameters in the extremities affected? What are the different effects we can demonstrate with the materials characterized in this way? Or how can dose specifications for contact pressure and stiffness be incorporated into the protocols of future comparative studies concerning clinical efficacy? Further topics to be discussed during the congress are the further development of duplex diagnostics, and, on the therapeutic level, the discussion of catheter methods and foam obliterations of varicose veins.
Bauerfeind AG: What are the current indications of compression therapy, and where do you see future areas of application?
Prof. Dr. Partsch: The compression therapy is, among others, used after obliteration of varicose veins and varicose vein surgery or in cases of chronic venous insufficiency with edema. Further applications are active or healed ulcers, superficial phlebitis, deep vein thrombosis and lymphoid edemas. In future I think we will also use the compression therapy for post-traumatic and inflammatory edemas, the dependency syndrome and the diabetic foot.
Bauerfeind AG: What are the characteristics of current products for compression therapy? Where do you see development potentials with regard to product properties?
Prof. Dr. Partsch: We now have a much broader range of stockings and bandages at our disposal – also for special indications. In the future I think the adjustment of pressure conditions to each individual indication will gain in importance.
Bauerfeind AG: Where do you see the priorities in the study of venous and lymphatic system diseases?
Prof. Dr. Partsch: In genetics, molecular biology and micro-circulation. New risk factors for thrombophilic disorders are constantly discovered, and new findings about genetic defects in connection with lymphatic edemas are made. In my opinion, we have to do more extensive research concerning the influence of the compression therapy on the expression of proteins in the case of venous insufficiency. (Bauerfeind supports research in this field: see BSPA study results of Dr. Susanna Braun – the editor)
Bauerfeind AG: What role does the compression therapy play against the background of changes in the health systems in countries like Germany or other industrialized countries with an ageing population?
Prof. Dr. Partsch: In Germany prescriptions are generally restricted to patients who really need compression hosiery. Older people in particular should wear such hosiery on a regular basis because they often have swollen legs and thrombosis due to a lack of exercise. Furthermore I see a potential for the compression therapy in emerging economies. In China, for instance, the therapy is almost unknown for the after-treatment of venous thrombosis.
Bauerfeind AG: What chances do you see for the transfer of medical knowledge and experience from doctors to specialist traders and patients?
Prof. Dr. Partsch: Doctors in general need more information since the very effective therapy by compression is hardly addressed during medical training. “Publicity and Education“ should be organised by doctors, experienced users and manufacturers for specialist traders and patients.
