Phase II Management 1. Continue with CDT components/principles. 2. Skin care. 3. Compression garments: may use lymphedema bandaging at night. 4. Exercise: combined with compression garments. 5. Pneumatic compression pumps used with caution. a. High pressures can damage lymph nodes. b. May move water instead of proteins. 316c. Use on lower extremity increases risk of genital lymphedema. d. Low pressure, sequential pumps are preferred. e. Use in Stage I lymphedema only: do not use if there is any change in skin or subcutaneous tissue, exacerbation of inflammation and fibrosis can occur in Stage II and Stage III patients.
Red Flag: Pressures >45 mmHg are contraindicated.
6. MLD as needed. a. Specialized education resources for MLD and CDT. • National Lymphedema Network: http://www .lymphnet.org. • Lymphology Association of North America: https://www.clt-lana.org. 7. Patient education. a. Skin and nail care. b. Self-bandaging, garment care. c. Infection prevention/management. d. Maintain exercise while preventing lymph overload. 8. Surgery to assist in lymph drainage (severe cases). a. Surgical reduction: de-bulking subcutaneous tissue and skin in severe cases of those who are considerably symptomatic. Significant risk of postsurgical morbidity. b. Restoring lymph flow: lymphovenous anastomoses and lymphatic vessel grafting and lymph node transplantation. Successful in patients with intact distal lymph and proximal lymph obstruction. c. Liposuction: may be considered for patients with nonpitting lymphedema and when other conservative measures have failed. Must use compressive garments postsurgically. |