Ex vivo evaluation of the clinical performance of an elastic crepe or support bandage for the treatment of varicose veins

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> Varicose vein is a progressive disease that does not have remission except after pregnancy and delivery. It is a type of venous insufficiency that presents with dilated, tortuous, elongated veins owing to the permanent loss of the valvular efficiency. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the health care professionals can consistently achieve a sub-bandage interface pressure of 30 ± 10 mm Hg using an Elastic Crepe Bandage, ECB-394, or its derivatives, which has similar viscoelastic properties, to treat patients with varicose veins. <h3>Methods</h3> This study was conducted among the varicose vein patients attending Sree Parthas Multispecialty Hospital and the Department of Vascular Surgery over a period of 3 months. Patients were screened for the study from November 2023 to February 2024. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, study participants were recruited. The final sample size was 35. Demographic details were recorded. Sub-bandage pressure was measured with the Pico Press sensor. The data collected were entered in Excel Sheet and analysis were done by SPSS 23. A <i>P</i> value of less than .05 was considered as statistically significant. <h3>Results</h3> The mean age of the study participants was 42.37 ± 12.09 years, with a minimum age of 22 years and a maximum of 72 years. Males were predominant in our study, accounting for 27 participants (77.1%). Systemic hypertension, present in six patients (17.1%), was the most common comorbidity. A statistically significant difference was observed between the initial and final pressure measurements. Compliance and safety were found to be 100% among the study participants. Efficacy was observed in 80% of the participants, although adherence was only noted in 60%. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of the intervention, with a high compliance rate and a statistically significant improvement in pressure outcomes. However, adherence remains a key area for further improvement.