Does initial routine use of a compression garment reduce the risk of lower limb lymphedema after gynecological cancer treatment? A randomized pilot study in an Asian institution and review of the literature.

Does initial routine use of a compression garment reduce the risk of lower limb lymphedema after gynecological cancer treatment? A randomized pilot study in an Asian institution and review of the literature. Lymphology. 2018;51(4):174-183 Authors: Hnin YK, Ong LX, Tsai CC, Ong SS, Yee SG, Choo BA, Low JJ Abstract This is a randomized pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of customized compression garments (CG) in reducing the risk of lower limb lymphedema (LLL) in gynecological cancer patients. Patients who completed pelvic node dissection or radiation were routinely educated on reducing the risk of LLL by good skin care and manual lymphatic massage. After baseline lower limb volume perometry and clinical assessment, they were randomized to customized compression garment (CG) for 6 weeks (26 patients) or observation (30 patients). Both groups were followed up for 2 years and the primary outcome was the development of LLL. LLL incidence in the control group was 13.3% (4 of 30 patients) compared to 7.7% (2 of 26 patients) in the CG group. However the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.496). In the control group, 10.7% (3/28) who underwent node dissection developed LLL vs 7.7% (2/26) in the CG group. Among patients with node dissection plus radiation, LLL incidence was 14.3% (1/7) in the control group vs 12.5% (1/8) in the CG group. The mean onset of LLL was 12 months; compliance to CG wearing was high and QOL scores w...
Source: Lymphology - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Lymphology Source Type: research