What is the purpose of ted stockings after surgery ?

Blood clots: After surgery a person is often inactive or required to be at bed rest. Unfortunately, this inactivity can lead to pooling of blood in the legsand increases the risk of blood clots (dvt). Ted stockings increase passive pressure in the legs, decreases blood pooling and thus lowers the risk of leg clots that could cause a pulmonary embolus if they were to travel to the lung.

Prevent blood clots: They are intended to help prevent blood clots, but will do little by themselves. In addition to other measures such as injections of "blood thinners" and compression devices (the leg squeezers) they do reduce your chance of blood clots forming, which can travel to your lungs. They also help reduce the leg swelling which is pretty common after surgery.

Prevent clots in bed: Ted (thromboembolic deterrent) hose do help to decrease your risk of developing a blood clot when you are at bedrest, along with other measures, as dr. Disssanaike said. Unfortunately, their low pressure really doesn't do anything once you are up and around and need compression. There is a good description of what they do at http://wiki.Answers.Com/q/what_does_ted_stand_for_in_ted_hose.