Intensive treatment of leg lymphedema.

Apr 2010

Pereira de Godoy JM, Azoubel LM, de Fátima Guerreiro de Godoy M.

Source

Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery and professor of the post graduation course of Medicine School of São Jose do Rio Preto-FAMERP-Brazil.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Despite of all the problems caused by lymphedema, this disease continues to affect millions of people worldwide. Thus, the identification of the most efficacious forms of treatment is necessary.

AIM:

The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel intensive outpatient treatment for leg lymphedema.

METHODS:

Twenty-three legs of 19 patients were evaluated in a prospective randomized study. The inclusion criteria were patients with Grade II and III lymphedema, where the difference, measured by volumetry, between the affected limb below the knee and the healthy limb was greater than 1.5 kg. Intensive treatment was carried out for 6- to 8-h sessions in the outpatient clinic. Analysis of variance was utilized for statistical analysis with an alpha error of 5% (P-value <0.05) being considered significant.

RESULTS:

All limbs had significant reductions in size with the final mean loss being 81.1% of the volume of edema. The greatest losses occurred in the first week (P-value <0.001). Losses of more than 90% of the lymphedema occurred in 9 (39.13%) patients; losses of more than 80% in 13 (56.52%), losses of more than 70% in 17 (73.91%) and losses of more than 50% were rec

CONCLUSION:

The intensive treatment of lymphedema in the outpatient clinic can produce significant reductions in the volume of edema over a short period of time and can be recommended for any grade of lymphedema, in particular the more advanced degrees.

NIH