Postural Drainage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage for Lower Limb Edema in Women with Morbid Obesity After Bariatric Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Jan 2013

Bertelli DF, de Oliveira P, Gimenes AS, Moreno MA.

Source

From the College of Health Science, Methodist University of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of postural drainage (PD) and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) techniques on edema in the lower limbs of women with morbid obesity submitted to bariatric surgery.

DESIGN:

A total of 47 women between 20 and 40 yrs old with a body mass index of 40 kg/m or higher were randomly placed in three groups: control group (n = 15), PD group (PDG, n = 16), and MLD group (n = 16). Lower limb perimetry was carried out in the first and third days of the postoperative period. All patients underwent six sessions of conventional physical therapy, plus additional six sessions of PD for the PDG or six sessions of MLD for the MLD group.

RESULTS:

Intragroup analysis showed volume reductions in the PDG and the MLD group after the treatment protocol. Comparison of the pretreatment and posttreatment deltas among the groups showed a larger change in volume for the PDG compared with the control group and a larger change in volume for the MLD group compared with the control group or the PDG.

CONCLUSIONS:

The treatment protocols promoted reductions in volume values, suggesting that both techniques could be used to help reduce lower limb edema among this population. Nevertheless, the best results were obtained with MLD.

PubMed

Secondary Leg Lymphedema

Secondary Leg Lymphedema

Related terms: leg swelling, leg edema, leg lymphoedema

Introduction

If you ask most people that are familiar with lymphedema the question, “Are you aware of secondary lymphedema,” most would reply that “yes, it is where the arm swells after the lymph system has been damaged by breast cancerbiopsy and treatment.” This is called arm lymphedema.

Even if they are aware that such a condition as secondary leg lymphedema exists, their response might well be that it is a small group of afflicted men who have prostate cancer.

Thus shows how little awareness there is about this particular form of lymphedema. Even in the lymphedema world it is a poor step-child.

However, if the membership of Lymphedema People and the posts in the online lymphedema support groups are an indication, this condition is increasing dramatically.

The reasons for this increase are multiple. They include:

1. increased survival rates of cancer 2. improved treatment of trauma injuries that previously would have been terminal 3. increase in antibiotics for infections and treatment for other conditions that previously might have resulted in death.

It is also important to note that secondary leg lymphedema does not necessarily start immediately after the injury or trauma. It may not start for years.

What is secondary leg lymphedema?

Secondary lymphedema is a condition where the lymphatic system has been damaged. The main job of this system is to move excess through and out of our bodies. When it becomes damaged or impaired, it is no longer able to accomplish this function and these fluids (lymph fluids) collect in the interstitial tissues of our legs. This causes leg swelling.

Another important function of the lymph system is to help our bodies fight infections. With lymphedema, this ability is also weakened and the patient becomes more susceptible to infections.

What causes secondary leg lymphedema?

Secondary leg lymphedema (also referred to as acquired lymphedema) is caused by or can develop as a results of:

1.) Surgeries involving the abdomen or legs where the lymph system has been damaged. This includes any intrusive surgery.

Examples are

vein stripping surgery for peripheral vascular disease hip replacement knee replaement insertion of bolts, screws and other devices in orthopaedic repair lipectomy

2.) Removal of lymph nodes for cancer biopsy. These cancers include, but are not limited to

prostate cancer testicular cancer ovarian cancer uteran cancer vulva cancer bladder lymphoma - both hodgkins and non hodgkinsmelanoma colon Kaposi Sarcoma

3.) Radiation treatment of these cancers that scars the lymph system and lymph nodes

4. Some types of chemo therapy. For example, tamoxifen has been linked to secondary lymphedema and blood clots.

5.) Severe infections/sepsis. Generally referred to as lymphangitis, this is a serious life-threatening infection of the lymph system/nodes.

6.) Trauma injuries such as those experienced in an automobile accident that severly injures the leg and the lymph system.

7.) Burns - this even includes severe sunburn. We have a member that acquired secondary leg lymphedema from this.

8.) Bone breaks and fractures.

9.) Morbid obesity - the lymphatics are eventually crushed by the excessive weight. When that occurs, the damage is permanent and chronic secondary leg lymphedema begins.

10.)Insect bites

11.)Parasitic infections

What are some of the symptoms of secondary leg lymphedema?

These symptoms may include:

1.) Unexplained swelling of either part of or the entire leg. In early stage lymphedema, this swelling will actually do down during the night and/or periods of rest, causing the patient to think it is just a passing thing and ignore it.

2.) A feeling of heaviness or tightness in the leg

3.) Increaseing restriction on the range of motion for the leg.

4.) Unsual or unexplained aching or discomfort in the leg.

5.) Any change involving hardening and/or thickening of the skin or areas of skin on the leg.

A newly designed SIPC device for management of lymphoedema.

WARNING TO ALL LYMPHEDEMA PATIENTS

This abstract is a prime example of just how bad information can be that is presented even through PubMed.

Lymphology 101 clearly shows that high pressure pneumatic devices can cause serious damage to the good lymphatics, making lymphedema even worse.

Read this for education, but please, please, please, what ever you do never ever ever set the compression level on high if you use a pneumatic device.

A newly designed SIPC device for management of lymphoedema.

PubMed

Pat

Unilateral pitting edema of the leg as a manifestation of Graves' disease: a case report.

Unilateral pitting edema of the leg as a manifestation of Graves' disease: a case report.

August 2012

Volke V, Matjus S.

Source

Internal Medicine Clinic, South Estonian Hospital, Meegomäe, Võru vald, 65526, Estonia. vallo.volke@ut.ee.

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

INTRODUCTION:

Graves' hyperthyroidism has a number of well-recognized but relatively rare extrathyroid manifestations such as thyroid acropachy, pretibial myxedema, and congestive heart failure.

CASE PRESENTATION:

A 38-year-old Caucasian woman presented to the out-patient clinic with symptoms of hyperthyroidism lasting for approximately five months. Remarkably, she had developed pitting edema of her left leg four months before. She had gone through a conventional assessment, but the reason for the edema was not revealed. At presentation to the endocrinology clinic, the skin of both legs was of normal color and pitting edema on her left leg was of a diffuse nature and spread from her toes to two thirds of her leg. The skin surface of her left leg was smooth and had no elevations or discoloration, whereas her right leg appeared normal. Based on signs and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis and suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone level (less than 0.001mIU/L, local reference of 0.4 to 4), treatment of 10mg of thiamazole three times a day was started. Additional blood tests revealed marked Graves' hyperthyroidism with elevated free T4 and anti-thyroid receptor antibodies. Within a month, the free T4 level was normalized and the edema was completely cleared and never reappeared during the treatment course of 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of unilateral treatment-responsive leg edema as a manifestation of Graves' hyperthyroidism. However, the pathophysiological mechanism underlying this case of edema remains unclear.

BioMed

Interventions for varicose veins and leg lymphedema in pregnancy.

Interventions for varicose veins and leg lymphedema in pregnancy.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan

Bamigboye AA, Smyth R.
Mediclinic Private Hospital and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Witwatersra, PO Box 15184, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa, 1200. bami@medinet.co.za

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is presumed to be a major contributory factor in the increased incidence of varicose veins in women, which can in turn lead to venous insufficiency and leg oedema. The most common symptom of varicose veins and oedema is the substantial pain experienced, as well as night cramps, numbness, tingling, the legs may feel heavy, achy, and possibly be unsightly. Treatment of varicose veins are usually divided into three main groups: surgery, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Treatments of leg oedema comprise mostly of symptom reduction rather than cure and use pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.

OBJECTIVES: To assess any form of intervention used to relieve the symptoms associated with varicose veins and leg oedema in pregnancy.

SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (October 2006).

SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of treatments for varicose veins or leg oedema, or both, in pregnancy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Both review authors independently assessed trials for eligibility, methodological quality and extracted all data.

MAIN RESULTS: Three trials, involving 159 women, were included.

VARICOSE VEINS: One trial, involving 69 women, reported that rutoside significantly reduced the symptoms associated with varicose veins (relative risk (RR) 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11 to 3.22). There were no significant differences in side-effects (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.13 to 5.79) or incidence of deep vein thrombosis (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.01 to 3.49).

EDEMA: One trial, involving 35 women, reported no significant difference in lower leg volume when compression stockings were compared against rest (weighted mean difference -258.80, 95% CI -566.91 to 49.31). Another trial, involving 55 women, compared reflexology with rest. Reflexology significantly reduced the symptoms associated with oedema (reduction in symptoms: RR 9.09, 95% CI 1.41 to 58.54). There was no evidence of significant difference in the women's satisfaction and acceptability with either intervention (RR 6.00, 95% CI 0.92 to 39.11).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Rutosides appear to help relieve the symptoms of varicose veins in late pregnancy. However, this finding is based on one small study (69 women) and there are not enough data presented in the study to assess its safety in pregnancy. It therefore cannot be routinely recommended. Reflexology appears to help improve symptoms for women with leg oedema, but again this is based on one small study (43 women). External compression stockings do not appear to have any advantages in reducing oedema.

Plain language summary

Not enough evidence on treatments for varicose veins and leg oedema in pregnancyVaricose veins, sometimes called varicosity, occur when a valve in the blood vessel walls weakens and the blood stagnates. This in turn leads to problems with the circulation in the veins and to oedema or swelling. The vein then becomes distended, its walls stretch and sag, allowing the vein to swell into a tiny balloon near the surface of the skin. The veins in the legs are most commonly affected as they are working against gravity, but the vulva (vaginal opening) or rectum, resulting in haemorrhoids (piles), can be affected too. Pregnancy seems to increase the risk of varicose veins and they cause considerable pain, night cramps, numbness, tingling, the legs may feel heavy, achy, and they are rather ugly. Treatments for varicose veins are usually divided into three main groups: surgery, pharmacological treatments and non-pharmacological. The review identified three trials involving 159 women. Although the drug rutoside seemed to be effective in reducing symptoms, the study was too small to be able to say this with real confidence. Similarly, with compression stockings and reflexology, there were insufficient data to be able to assess benefits and harms, but they looked promising. More research is needed.

Cochran Library