Effectiveness of Compression Therapy on Lower Extremity Oedema in Heart Failure Patients: A Case Study

Abstract

Background: Heart Failure is a condition that the heart can not pump enough blood to meet the circulatory needs used in the body's metabolic processes. Patients with heart failure disease may experience swelling (oedema) in certain parts of the body, especially the lower extremities. Oedema that is not treated will exacerbate damage to the circulatory system. One of the treatments for lower extremity oedema in heart failure patients can be done by giving compression therapy. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of compression therapy on lower extremity oedema in heart failure patients. Method: This research is a case study that managed one patient with heart failure disease who has lower extremity oedema. Data collection was carried out by observation, interview and provision of interventions carried out for 4 days using moderate pressure (20-30 mmHg). This research use compression stocking for 18 hours within 24 hours. Compression therapy is given once a day that the stocking is used at 14.00 WIB and removed at 08.00 WIB on the following day. The instrument used in this study was the pitting oedema observation sheet. Result: The results of this study were a decrease in the degree of pitting oedema in patients from a value of +3 with a depth of 5 mm in a return time of 65 seconds to a value of +1 with a depth of 1 mm in a return time of 2 seconds. Conclusion: Compression therapy is effective in reducing the degree of pitting oedema in patients with heart failure. Compression therapy has optimal effectiveness on the third day of intervention. Therefore, this therapy is highly recommended to be applied in the inpatient room, especially in patients with heart failure who have oedema in lower extremity.