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Two Pneumatic Compression Devices in the Treatment of Lower Extremity Lymphedema

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Lymphedema
Interventions
Device: Flexitouch System
Device: Hydroven FPR
Registration Number
NCT01239160
Lead Sponsor
Tactile Medical
Brief Summary

The treatment of lymphedema has been a major focus of attention for physicians and scientists for several decades. At this time, no successful techniques have been developed to prevent lymphedema, and therefore, a great deal of emphasis is placed on treatment modalities that can lessen the severity and impede the progression of this debilitating condition.

The treatment on offer usually consists of a maintenance phase using compression garments and an intensive treatment phase, which includes the use of skin care, compression bandaging, exercise and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). The intensive phase is usually described as complex decongestive therapy (CDT). This is time consuming and requires high resource usage. Pneumatic compression devices (PCD) offer and alternative to MLD and can be used by the patient. There are a number of devices on the market that are categorized into 1. without calibrated gradient compression 2. With calibrated gradient compression.

This trial will compare two PCDs, a simple device without calibrated compression, and an advanced device with calibrated compression, in the reduction of swelling and maintenance of reduced limb volume in 262 patients with lower limb lymphoedema. The primary end point will be limb volume reduction over 12 weeks of treatment, with secondary outcome after 24 weeks.

Detailed Description

This is a Multicentre, prospective, single (assessor) blind randomised study. The primary objective of the study is to assess volume reduction in the treatment of lymphoedematous legs with an advanced PCD compared to a simple PCD in patients with lower limb lymphoedema. The main outcome is the percentage volume reduction of the affected limb at end of treatment compared to baseline.

Secondary objectives of the study are Assessment of safety Quality of life Health economic parameters

In total 262 patients with leg lymphoedema will be enrolled into the study. Patients eligible for the study are those who suffer from late stage II and stage III according to the International Society of Lymphology lymphoedema staging. Lymphoedematous legs can be of primary or secondary origin and uni or bilaterally affected. Medical history will be taken at baseline.

Patients will be taught how to use the device they have been randomised to. Visits will then take place at weeks 1,4,8,12 and 24 weeks. The device will be used for up to 60 minutes each day on the trial limb. At each visit sequential circumferences of the affected and unaffected limbs will be measured with a tape measure.

All adverse events will be documented. At beginning and end of study quality of life questionnaires and health economic information will be completed by the patients.

At the Derby site assessment of tissue quality will be made using ultrasound and moisture meter to assess tissue fluid.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
238
Inclusion Criteria
  • Subjects must be ≥ 18 years old or legal age in host country.
  • Subjects must have a diagnosis of primary or secondary late Stage 2 or 3 unilateral or bilateral lower extremity lymphoedema.
  • At time of initial evaluation, individuals must be at least 3 months post-surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment for cancer if applicable.
  • If subjects were treated in a clinic setting for lymphoedema (Phase 1 treatment) they must be at least 3 months post completion of their acute care.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of active or recurrent cancer, or less than 3 months at the time of initial evaluation from the completion of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or primary surgery for the treatment of cancer.
  • Diagnosis of acute infection. The source of the infection must be treated for 2 weeks prior to admittance into the study.
  • Diagnosis of acute thrombophlebitis (in last 2 months)
  • Diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD): PAD is defined as an Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), of 0.7 or lower.
  • Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis within the previous 6 months
  • Diagnosis of pulmonary edema
  • Diagnosis of congestive heart failure (uncontrolled)
  • Diagnosis of chronic kidney disease with a Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) of less than 30 mls per minute.
  • Patients with poorly controlled asthma (i.e. those with severe persistent symptoms throughout the day, night time awakenings several times per week, use of a beta2 agonist inhaler several times per day and those whose normal activity is extremely limited).
  • Pregnancy
  • Any condition where increased venous and lymphatic return is undesirable
  • Inability or unwillingness to participate in all aspects of study protocol and/or inability to provide informed consent
  • Currently participating in another clinical trial

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Advanced PCDFlexitouch SystemThe use of an advanced PCD device to reduce and maintain limb volume
Simple PCDHydroven FPRThe use of the Simple PCD is to reduce and maintain limb volume
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Limb Volume Change Between Baseline and 12 Weeks of Treatment - mlBaseline to 12 weeks was the primary outcome; other time points included for informational purposes.

Limb volume in ml as assessed using the tape measure method of collecting circumferential leg measurements to insert into the truncated cone formula for limb volume calculation. A positive score indicates volume reduction between baseline and the noted follow-up, while a negative score indicates volume increase.

Limb Volume Change Baseline to 12 Weeks of Treatment - PercentBaseline to 12 weeks was the primary outcome; other time points included for informational purposes.

Limb volume (percent change from baseline) as assessed using the tape measure method of collecting circumferential leg measurements to insert into the truncated cone formula for limb volume calculation. A positive score indicates volume reduction between baseline and the noted follow-up, while a negative score indicates volume increase.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adverse Events - TotalsUp to 24 weeks of treatment

Adverse and serious adverse events will be recorded for patients for the duration of their participation in the trial

Trial Locations

Locations (22)

University of Missouri-Columbia,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Lymphedema Therapy Clinic

🇺🇸

Columbia, Missouri, United States

Ohio State University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Columbus, Ohio, United States

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Fletcher Allen Health Care, Inc., University of Vermont

🇺🇸

Colchester, Vermont, United States

Greenville Hospital Systems

🇺🇸

Greenville, South Carolina, United States

University of Glasgow

🇬🇧

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

King's Mill Hospital

🇬🇧

Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom

Norfolk and Norwich University

🇬🇧

Norwich, United Kingdom

Carolinas Rehabilitation

🇺🇸

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Hope Research Institute

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Prairie Education & Research Cooperative

🇺🇸

Springfield, Illinois, United States

Royal Derby Hospital

🇬🇧

Derby, United Kingdom

Northwestern University

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Stony Brook University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Stony Brook, New York, United States

Queens Medical Center

🇬🇧

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Kendal Lymphology Centre

🇬🇧

Kendal, United Kingdom

Lymphoedema Clinic, Singleton Hospital

🇬🇧

Swansea, United Kingdom

St Giles Hospice

🇬🇧

Whittington, United Kingdom

Flinders Medical Center

🇦🇺

Adelaide, Australia

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University

🇬🇧

Swansea, West Glamorgan, United Kingdom

St Oswalds Hospice

🇬🇧

Gosforth, United Kingdom

LOROS Hospice

🇬🇧

Leicester, Leics, United Kingdom

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