Venous disease and compression therapy in the elderly

Abstract

Practice in a geriatric environment shows the importance
and high incidence of vascular diseases and especially those
of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs and its
complications, as well as those of venous thrombo-embolic
disease. This elderly population has two essential essential
features: polypathology and many drugs.
In this context, compression therapy is important, especially to prevent venous ulcers and venous thromboembolism
after surgery or acute medical ill conditions. Indeed, venous
thromboembolism therapy by long-term anticoagulant treatments involves, in addition to major hemorrhagic risks, risks
in case of renal failure or drug, interactions. However, the
compression therapy of elderly patients is not always easy
to adopt, with its precautions, its contraindications, its risks,
its practical difficulties and especially of observance. Other
pathologies frequently met this difficult or impossible task:
decompensated heart failure, sensory neuropathy, diabetic
angiopathy; and especially as their symptoms may be masked
or attenuated in the physiologically elderly subject. The goal
is effective and well tolerated compression therapy. The key
is not to harm “Primum non nocere”.