Pregnant women are at risk to develop Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) signs and symptoms. Compression therapy is one of the most effective conservative treatments for alleviating symptoms of CVD, particularly in pregnant women. While experts recommend the use of Elastic Venous Compression Devices (EVCDs) for pregnant women presenting symptoms and/or signs of CVD, there is a discrepancy regarding the recommendations and the real-life dispensation. Considering a loss of chance for the patient if a compression device is not used, the compliance is crucial for alleviating CVD signs and symptoms. EVCDs could exert their beneficial effects through a decrease of the diameter of the common femoral vein and the great and small superficial veins, thereby allowing previously incompetent venous valves to coapt, resulting in restoration of the venous competence of damaged vessels. An increase in blood flow velocity and venous emptying and a reduction in vein reflux are thus induced allowing a reduction of the signs and subjective symptoms of pain,
oedema, and leg heaviness related to pregnancy.
The purpose of this review is to present the effects of EVCDs on the first signs and symptoms of CVD (C0s to C3 of the CEAP classification) during pregnancy. After giving epidemiological data, we will describe the knowledge of recommendations of the use of EVCD during ante and post-partum, and the benefit of using EVCDs to alleviate symptoms and signs of CVD. Finally, we will review the real-life dispensation, compliance, and reticence to use EVCD.
Keywords: Chronic venous disease; Compliance; Elastic venous compression devices; Pregnancy