Effect of the volume of lymphedema on the reduction of edema during intensive treatment

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema is a clinical condition caused by a failure of the lymphatic system that leads to the retention of macromolecules and fluids. This condition may be congenital or acquired. The objective of the present study was to illustrate variations in the percentage reduction of edema in limbs with unilateral lymphedema, assessed by water displacement volumetry, considering values from 0 to 1 kg, from 1 to <2 kgs and between two and four kgs.METHODS: A clinical trial was conducted with 60 patients having undergone intensive treatment for unilateral lymphedema using the Godoy method®: mechanical lymphatic therapy, manual lymphatic therapy adapted a to the physiopathological process of each patient, eight hours per day, cervical therapy 15 min per day, use of grosgrain stockings/bandages eight hours per day. The reduction in edema in patients with different initial volumes was evaluated using volumetric analysis (water displacement).RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney U Test revealed no significant difference in the reduction in the percentage of volume between the patients in group I (<1 kg) and those patients in group II (1 to <2 kg) (P=0.08). However, a significant difference was found between group I (<1 kg) and group III (2 to 4 kg) (P=0.04).CONCLUSIONS: The volume of the limb in lymphedema interferes with the treatment time and can bring data to program the average duration of treatment used.