Most patients undergoing planned surgery do not need compression stockings (14 July 2020)

Summary

Compression stockings might be unnecessary for patients at moderate or high risk of blood clots who are undergoing planned surgery.

A study called GAPS suggests that anti-clotting medicine alone is just as effective as using it in combination with compression stockings. 

Researchers involved in the large randomised controlled study recommend that guidelines for preventing blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) should be changed. They suggest that compression stockings should no longer be standard care for most patients having planned surgery and taking anti-clotting medicine while in hospital. This could save the NHS in England around £63 million per year.