Following a request from the HSE, the Authority undertook a health technology assessment (HTA) of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) for people with severe peripheral arterial disease who are not candidates for revascularisation via angioplasty or surgical intervention. The assessment was completed and submitted as advice to the HSE for consideration.
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HTA of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression
Foreword
The purpose of this HTA was to examine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in patients with advanced peripheral arterial disease. This disease causes a restriction in blood flow to the extremities due to narrowing or blockages in the arteries, which in extreme cases can result in leg pain at rest, non-healing wounds and tissue necrosis.
IPC has been proposed as a treatment that can be used in addition to best medical management and is designed to increase blood flow in the lower limbs to relieve pain, promote wound healing and decrease the risk of amputation. IPC devices consist of an inflatable cuff, or series of cuffs, that wrap around the affected leg and apply controlled cyclical compression for a set duration.
This HTA consists of a systematic review and critical appraisal of the evidence on the use of IPC treatment in patients with advanced peripheral arterial disease.