Management Of Secondary Lymphedema Research Articles

Diagnosis and management of secondary lymphedema

Secondary lymphedema, more common than its primary variant is essentially a clinical diagnosis. Evaluation should include measurement of limb circumference and volume and appropriate staging protocols to determine the severity of the condition. Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging and lymphoscintigraphy are invaluable in ruling out other causes of extremity swelling and for planning surgical treatment. Conservative measures such as combined decongestive therapy are of prime importance in reducing the limb volume and should be continued to maintain the results of surgical treatment. Pharmacotherapy does not have much role in lymphedema. Surgical options which were initially restricted to debulking procedures in chronic late stages are now gaining more relevance with the advent of physiological techniques to prevent further progression of the condition. Detailed counseling regarding the chronic nature of the disease and the need for regular follow-up along with rehabilitation programs will further improve the management of lymphedema.

Diagnosis and management of secondary lymphedema

Secondary lymphedema, more common than its primary variant is essentially a clinical diagnosis. Evaluation should include measurement of limb circumference and volume and appropriate staging protocols to determine the severity of the condition. Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging and lymphoscintigraphy are invaluable in ruling out other causes of extremity swelling and for planning surgical treatment. Conservative measures such as combined decongestive therapy are of prime importance in reducing the limb volume and should be continued to maintain the results of surgical treatment. Pharmacotherapy does not have much role in lymphedema. Surgical options which were initially restricted to debulking procedures in chronic late stages are now gaining more relevance with the advent of physiological techniques to prevent further progression of the condition. Detailed counseling regarding the chronic nature of the disease and the need for regular follow-up along with rehabilitation programs will further improve the management of lymphedema.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Exercises in Management of Secondary Lymphedema Following Mastectomy-Systemic Review

Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Exercises in Management of Secondary Lymphedema Following Mastectomy-Systemic Review

Treatment of Lymphedema

To the Editor.— In regard to the question asked in Management of Chronic Lymphedema in a Young Man by L. George Hershey, DO (241:1625, 1979), I was distressed with the final answer by David I. Abramson, MD. There is adequate evidence that it takes pressures of between 20 to 30 mm Hg to keep lymphedema under control, and this is similar to work done in the treatment of hypertrophic burn scars. With hypoplastic lymphatic channels, one can anticipate, unless optimum pressure is maintained, that there will be a gradual increase in the size of the areas involved with lymphedema. To the best of my knowledge, there is no evidence that furosemide (Lasix) really helps in the management of secondary lymphedema as it relates to aplastic or hypoplastic lymphatic channels or with destruction of the continuity of lymphatic channels. Basically, secondary lymphedema, which I presume this case to be, indicates first the