Paliatívna medicína a liečba bolesti 1-2e/2022

Lymphedema and other edemas in palliative patients

Lymphedemas and other edemas of the extremities are very common complications of oncological treatment, predominantly in women with gynecological malignancy. They significantly impair their quality of life and represent, in addition to the medical one, a social and psychological problem. Swelling (edema) represents an excessive accumulation of water and salt in the body outside the vascular space, which can lead not only to an increase in tissues and organs, but also to a malfunction of their function. Lymphedema is formed by the accumulation of fluid rich in proteins, metabolic fumes and inflammatory products in the intercellular space in volume-regulatory microcirculation disorder. Proper differential diagnosis of edema and treatment is important. Complex decongestant therapy (CDT), which includes compression bandages, physiotherapy, manual and instrumental lymphatic drainage, can improve and stabilize secondary lymphedema.

Keywords: lymphedema, malignancy, compression therapy, lymphatic drainage