Innovative Journal of Medical and Health Sciences

Aim: The aim of the current study was to highlight the ‘piston’ effect of the calf
muscle pump using constriction mechanisms.
Method: Working pressure variations of 27 lower limbs of 14 volunteers wearing 20/30
mmHg elastic stockings were evaluated using a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter
was 4 x 5 cm in size, placed between the skin and the material of the stockings and
connected to a DTX Plus TM sensor; a portable device that collects and stores pressure
readings at half-second intervals. One catheter was placed in the medial region of the
calf muscle and another at the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in this muscle.
The volunteers were asked to walk. The paired Student t-test was utilized for statistical
analysis with an alpha error of 5% considered acceptable.
Result: The pressure variations were greater in the region where the Achilles tendon
is inserted into the muscle than in the medial region of the calf muscle (Student t-test;
p-value = 0.0006).
Conclusion: At the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in the calf muscle there is a
‘piston’ effect during exercising, causing working pressure variations when contention
mechanisms are used.
Key words: Elastic stockings–working pressure–mechanism–piston effect

Aim: The aim of the current study was to highlight the ‘piston’ effect of the calf
muscle pump using constriction mechanisms.
Method: Working pressure variations of 27 lower limbs of 14 volunteers wearing 20/30
mmHg elastic stockings were evaluated using a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter
was 4 x 5 cm in size, placed between the skin and the material of the stockings and
connected to a DTX Plus TM sensor; a portable device that collects and stores pressure
readings at half-second intervals. One catheter was placed in the medial region of the
calf muscle and another at the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in this muscle.
The volunteers were asked to walk. The paired Student t-test was utilized for statistical
analysis with an alpha error of 5% considered acceptable.
Result: The pressure variations were greater in the region where the Achilles tendon
is inserted into the muscle than in the medial region of the calf muscle (Student t-test;
p-value = 0.0006).
Conclusion: At the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in the calf muscle there is a
‘piston’ effect during exercising, causing working pressure variations when contention
mechanisms are used.
Key words: Elastic stockings–working pressure–mechanism–piston effect

Aim: The aim of the current study was to highlight the ‘piston’ effect of the calf
muscle pump using constriction mechanisms.
Method: Working pressure variations of 27 lower limbs of 14 volunteers wearing 20/30
mmHg elastic stockings were evaluated using a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter
was 4 x 5 cm in size, placed between the skin and the material of the stockings and
connected to a DTX Plus TM sensor; a portable device that collects and stores pressure
readings at half-second intervals. One catheter was placed in the medial region of the
calf muscle and another at the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in this muscle.
The volunteers were asked to walk. The paired Student t-test was utilized for statistical
analysis with an alpha error of 5% considered acceptable.
Result: The pressure variations were greater in the region where the Achilles tendon
is inserted into the muscle than in the medial region of the calf muscle (Student t-test;
p-value = 0.0006).
Conclusion: At the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in the calf muscle there is a
‘piston’ effect during exercising, causing working pressure variations when contention
mechanisms are used.
Key words: Elastic stockings–working pressure–mechanism–piston effect

Aim: The aim of the current study was to highlight the ‘piston’ effect of the calf
muscle pump using constriction mechanisms.
Method: Working pressure variations of 27 lower limbs of 14 volunteers wearing 20/30
mmHg elastic stockings were evaluated using a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter
was 4 x 5 cm in size, placed between the skin and the material of the stockings and
connected to a DTX Plus TM sensor; a portable device that collects and stores pressure
readings at half-second intervals. One catheter was placed in the medial region of the
calf muscle and another at the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in this muscle.
The volunteers were asked to walk. The paired Student t-test was utilized for statistical
analysis with an alpha error of 5% considered acceptable.
Result: The pressure variations were greater in the region where the Achilles tendon
is inserted into the muscle than in the medial region of the calf muscle (Student t-test;
p-value = 0.0006).
Conclusion: At the insertion point of the Achilles tendon in the calf muscle there is a
‘piston’ effect during exercising, causing working pressure variations when contention
mechanisms are used.
Key words: Elastic stockings–working pressure–mechanism–piston effect

Anesthesia for children is attenuated by the changes that occur during growth and
development. The dose of the drug is affected by the size and maturation processes
of purification, as well as by the changing body composition that occurs with age.
All organ systems undergo these maturation changes and most are completed in the
first years of life. Normal physiological variables in childhood and childhood are quite
different from those of adults. The central nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory
systems are particularly important. Brain immaturity and plasticity impact drug sensitivity,
pain responses and behavior and increase the potential damage of apoptosis
with anesthesia. The heart experiences a transition from fetal to adult circulation
during the first weeks of life. Congenital defects not diagnosed are not uncommon.
The newborn is very susceptible to conditions that trigger an increase in pulmonary
vascular resistance, with reversion to fetal circulatory patterns. The anatomy and respiratory
mechanics affect the apnea propensity, the maintenance of the airways, the
artificial ventilation modalities, the absorption of inhalant agents and the size of the
tracheal tubes. The metabolic rate and oxygen requirements increase with age. This
physiology influences various aspects that include the desaturation rate during apnea,
hypoglycemia during hunger, cardiac output, drug metabolism, fluid requirements and
heat production or loss.
Key words: Physiology–respiratory system–Anatomy–bronchomotor tone–functional
residual capacity–tracheobronchial tree–ventilationperfusion

Anesthesia for children is attenuated by the changes that occur during growth and
development. The dose of the drug is affected by the size and maturation processes
of purification, as well as by the changing body composition that occurs with age.
All organ systems undergo these maturation changes and most are completed in the
first years of life. Normal physiological variables in childhood and childhood are quite
different from those of adults. The central nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory
systems are particularly important. Brain immaturity and plasticity impact drug sensitivity,
pain responses and behavior and increase the potential damage of apoptosis
with anesthesia. The heart experiences a transition from fetal to adult circulation
during the first weeks of life. Congenital defects not diagnosed are not uncommon.
The newborn is very susceptible to conditions that trigger an increase in pulmonary
vascular resistance, with reversion to fetal circulatory patterns. The anatomy and respiratory
mechanics affect the apnea propensity, the maintenance of the airways, the
artificial ventilation modalities, the absorption of inhalant agents and the size of the
tracheal tubes. The metabolic rate and oxygen requirements increase with age. This
physiology influences various aspects that include the desaturation rate during apnea,
hypoglycemia during hunger, cardiac output, drug metabolism, fluid requirements and
heat production or loss.
Key words: Physiology–respiratory system–Anatomy–bronchomotor tone–functional
residual capacity–tracheobronchial tree–ventilationperfusion

Anesthesia for children is attenuated by the changes that occur during growth and
development. The dose of the drug is affected by the size and maturation processes
of purification, as well as by the changing body composition that occurs with age.
All organ systems undergo these maturation changes and most are completed in the
first years of life. Normal physiological variables in childhood and childhood are quite
different from those of adults. The central nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory
systems are particularly important. Brain immaturity and plasticity impact drug sensitivity,
pain responses and behavior and increase the potential damage of apoptosis
with anesthesia. The heart experiences a transition from fetal to adult circulation
during the first weeks of life. Congenital defects not diagnosed are not uncommon.
The newborn is very susceptible to conditions that trigger an increase in pulmonary
vascular resistance, with reversion to fetal circulatory patterns. The anatomy and respiratory
mechanics affect the apnea propensity, the maintenance of the airways, the
artificial ventilation modalities, the absorption of inhalant agents and the size of the
tracheal tubes. The metabolic rate and oxygen requirements increase with age. This
physiology influences various aspects that include the desaturation rate during apnea,
hypoglycemia during hunger, cardiac output, drug metabolism, fluid requirements and
heat production or loss.
Key words: Physiology–respiratory system–Anatomy–bronchomotor tone–functional
residual capacity–tracheobronchial tree–ventilationperfusion