Treatment for Lymphedema

The current standard for managing lymphedema is complete decongestive therapy (CDT). CDT is a multifactorial approach combining manual lymphatic drainage, multilayer compression bandaging, exercise to increase the muscle pump to help move fluid from the limb and meticulous skin care.

This “intensive phase” provided three to five times per week can lead to a reduction in the volume of swelling and a softening and improvement in the skin quality. When the swelling has reduced sufficiently, patients are fitted with elastic compression garments (a stocking), which are worn during the day, and replaced by compression bandaging for sleep during what is called the “maintenance phase.” This conservative approach is highly effective in reducing the swelling and daily self-care with garment use, exercise and meticulous skin care maintain the reduction achieved during treatment.

Unfortunately, the underlying damage to the lymphatic system is not able to be repaired and patients must develop good habits to maintain the limb reduction.

Other treatments for lymphedema are currently being investigated, but it is important to consider the long-term implications of any treatment chosen. Treatments such as pneumatic compression pumps, microsurgical procedures and lymph node transfers have yet to show long-term, lasting benefit to their use, and most of these treatments still require the use of compression garments for adequate maintenance of the reduction in the size of the arm/leg after daily use or surgery.