(air compression) AND lymphedema

OBJECTIVES: Upper limb lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment is the leading cause of lymphedema in France. Despite improved surgical practices and de-escalation of radiotherapy, the risk of lymphedema after breast cancer still affects 5-20% of patients, with this variation depending on the measurement method used and the population studied. Lymphedema has a negative impact on quality of life and body image, and their possible occurrence remains a major concern for all women treated for breast cancer...

BACKGROUND: To evaluate risk factors (treatment-related, comorbidities, and lifestyle) for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) within the context of a Prospective Surveillance and Early Intervention (PSEI) model of care for subclinical BCRL. METHODS: The parent randomized clinical trial assigned patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer to PSEI with either bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) or tape measurement (TM). Surgical, systemic and radiation treatments, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors were recorded...

A proof of concept of a novel air microfluidics-enabled soft robotic sleeve to enable lymphedema treatment is presented. Compression sleeves represent the current, suboptimal standard of care, and stationary pumps assist with lymph drainage; however, effective systems that are truly wearable while performing daily activities are very scarce. This problematic trade-off between performance and wearability requires a new solution, which is addressed by an innovative microfluidic device. Its novelty lies in the use of light, small, and inexpensive air microfluidic chips (35 × 20 × 5 mm3 in size) that bring three major advantages compared to their traditional counterparts...

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) published expert panel recommendations for patients at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) and those affected by BCRL. This study sought to determine BCRL practice patterns. METHODS: A survey was sent to 2975 ASBrS members. Questions evaluated members' clinical practice type, practice duration, and familiarity with BCRL recommendations. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were used...

Pneumatic soft actuators (PSAs) are components that produce predesigned motion or force in different end-use devices. PSAs are lightweight, flexible, and compatible in human-machine interaction. The use of PSAs in compression therapy has proven promising in proactive pressure delivery with a wide range of dosages for treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and lymphedema. However, effective design and control of PSAs for dynamic pressure delivery have not been fully elaborated. The purpose of this study is to explore interactive working mechanisms between a PSA and lower limbs through establishing fluid-structure coupling models, an intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) testing system, and conducting experimental validation...

Based on the innovative "kinesio-taping" technique proposed by the Japanese researcher Kenzo Kace, we have designed a new physiotherapeutic complex including the well-known physiotherapeutic methods of lymphatic drainage with intermittent pneumatic compression and underwater massage shower. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficiency of the application of the "kinesio-taping" technique for the non-pharmacological rehabilitative treatment of the patients presenting with stage I-III lymphedema of the lower sextremities...

Milroy's disease is a hereditary congenital lymphedema caused by lymphatic obstruction. The legs are most commonly affected, but impaired intestinal lymphatic flow can cause loose bowel movements. Here, we report the use of the Kampo extract of shinbuto for successful treatment of and abdominal pain in a patient with Milroy's disease. Milroy's disease was diagnosed because of left leg lymph-edema with onset at birth. Conservative therapy with a compression bandage was applied. However, when the patient moved to Manila at 35 years of age, she was exposed to drastic temperature changes between the air-conditioned cold environment in her room and the hot and humid environment outside...

Lymphedema is a feared complication of cancer treatment and one that negatively impacts survivorship. The incidence of breast cancer-related lymphedema ranges from 6% to 70%, but lymphedema may be a common and under-reported morbidity. No standard guidelines for its diagnosis and assessment exist. Although the true etiology of lymphedema remains unknown, radiation, chemotherapy, type of breast surgery, and extent of axillary surgery are commonly cited risk factors. However, the relationship between the number of nodes removed and the risk of lymphedema is not clearly correlated...

INTRODUCTION: Graduated compression stockings represent a nonpharmacological approach to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) due to prolonged immobility through reducing lower limb venous stasis. A novel merino wool, double-layer, below-knee graduated compression stocking has been developed to reduce the risk of air travel-related DVT and PE. METHODS: Twenty healthy adult participants were randomized to wear the novel graduated compression stocking on either the left or right leg...

To assess the impact of air travel on swelling of the 'at risk' arm of women treated for breast cancer. Women treated for breast cancer from Canada (n = 60) and from within Australia (n = 12) attending a dragon boat regatta in Queensland, Australia participated. Women were measured within 2 weeks prior to their flight, on arrival in Queensland and, for 40 women travelling from Canada, measured again 6 weeks following return to Canada. Changes to extracellular fluid were measured using a single-frequency bioimpedance device (BIA)...

INTRODUCTION: This study arose because a number of patients volunteered that flying had triggered, or worsened, their lymphedema. The nature of lymphedema is discussed, including the pre-lymphedematous latent-phase. In this phase the limb is clinically normal, but lymphostatic. There are many of the alterations found in clinical lymphedema involving blood vessels, tissues, lymphatics, and proteolytic cells. Since edema itself impairs many of the safety factors against edema (increased tissue hydrostatic pressure, dilution of proteins in tissue fluid, increased lymphatic transport, and increased proteolysis), any edema occurring in such a limb is likely to persist as chronic lymphedema...

AIM: of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of medical compression stockings, which do not require special application techniques, compared with short stretch bandages for treating leg-ulcers. STUDY-DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Prospective trial on a total of 50 out-patients with leg-ulcers randomly allocated into two therapy-groups: 25 patients got firm compression bandages using short stretch material (Rosidal K), 25 patients were treated by medical compression stockings (Thrombo+Sigvaris 503)...

OBJECTIVES: To see whether popliteal aneurysms cause venous obstruction and to investigate leg oedema and DVT following repair. DESIGN: Prospective open clinical study. SETTING: University Department of Surgery. MATERIALS: 8 patients undergoing popliteal aneurysm repair in 9 legs (1 bilateral repair). CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: CT and plethysmographic evidence of vein compression, the occurrence of postoperative leg oedema and phlebographic evidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT)...

Air compression procedure was used in the treatment of 32 females radically operated on for breast cancer. The desired pressure of compressed air was fed successively in the proximal direction to the six chambers of a cuffed sleeve unit which was fitted over the patient's arm enclosing it from shoulder joint to fingers. The study will be continued because good results were obtained following application of three courses of the treatment.