Open Access

Eberhard Rabe, Ethel Földi, Horst Gerlach, Michael Jünger, Gerd Rudolf Lulay, Anya Miller, Kerstin Protz, Stefanie Reich-Schupke, Thomas Schwarz, Markus Stücker, Eva Maria Valesky, Felizitas Pannier

• The present guidelines comprise relevant aspects of the use of compression therapy with medical compression stockings (MCS), phlebological compression bandages (PCB), and medical adaptive compression systems (MAC) based on an extensive literature search based on the state of scientific knowledge as of December 2018. These guidelines were prepared by experts within the framework of an electronic consensus process and a consensus conference which took place in Bielefeld, Germany, on September 27, 2018, on the initiative of the German Society of Phlebology (DGP) and the Professional Association of Phlebologists (BVP). The guidelines were adopted by the boards and advisory councils of the DGP and the BVP, and of the participating professional associations, after preparation by the group of experts and extensive debate, on December 31, 2018. These guidelines do not cover compression therapy with medical thrombosis prophylaxis stockings (MTPS) or with intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), which are treated in other guidelines (AWMF 003-001, S3; AWMF 037-001, S1). The recommendations of the AWMF guidelines “Diagnostics and Treatment of Lymphedema” (registration number 058-001) and “Lipedema” (registration number 037-012) shall also be taken into account where appropriate: https://www.awmf.org/uploads/tx_szleitlinien/058-001l_S2k_Diagnostik_und_Therapie_der_Lymphoedeme_2017-05.pdf, https://www.awmf.org/uploads/tx_szleitlinien/037-012l_S1_Lipoedem_2016-01.pdf.