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The Effect of Complex Decongestive Therapy in Patients With Lymphedema

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Lymphedema
Urine Marking
Quality of Life
Edema
Interventions
Other: Complex Decongestive Therapy
Registration Number
NCT06220903
Lead Sponsor
Medipol University
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate objectively the effect of lymphatic fluid which is circulated with Complex Decongestive Therapy on fluid excretion from the body in patients with lymphedema.

Detailed Description

The lymphatic system is the accessory circulatory system that takes lymph fluid from the interstitial space and adds it to the blood circulation. It starts from the interstitial space. It consists of lymph vessels, lymph fluid and lymphatic organs. Lymph fluid passes through many lymph nodes during its transport and is filtered in these nodules. The lymphatic system takes lymphatic fluid from the tissues and brings it to the venous part of the circulatory system. The main task of the lymph system is to reabsorb substances that cannot be absorbed by the blood circulation system. Non-absorbable substances in the interstitial space are called lymphatic load. Lymphatic load; It consists of protein, water, fat and cells. The aim of lymphedema treatment is to remove the protein-rich fluid accumulated in the interstitial space into the venous system. There are many factors in the flow of lymph fluid into the veins. The most important of these is the high filtration pressure that occurs when fluid is filtered through blood capillaries. Lymph fluid flowing from the periphery to the center is generally affected by pressure changes and moves from where the pressure is high to where it is low. Contraction of the muscles adjacent to the lymph vessels, pulsation of the neighboring arteries, and the effect of the smooth muscles in the lymph vessel wall also cause pressure changes. Other factors include respiratory movements acting as a pump in the lymph flow, the actual pressure effect of abdominal pressure on the cisterna chyli, and negative intrathoracic pressure.

Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy is proven effective and considered the gold standard for the treatment of lymphedema. It increases the hydrostatic pressure that has decreased due to edema and helps the lymph fluid to re-enter the circulation.

Purpose of the study; To objectively investigate whether the lymph fluid added to the circulation through Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy in lymphedema patients has an effect on fluid excretion from the body.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Female cases
  • Cases diagnosed with lower extremity unilateral/bilateral lymphedema
  • Having received or not received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
Exclusion Criteria
  • Having received treatment for lymphedema in the last year
  • Having metastatic disease
  • Those diagnosed with severe heart failure and/or arrhythmia
  • Arterial disorders
  • Kidney diseases
  • Infection in affected extremities
  • Psychological disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Diuretic use
  • Patients using chemotherapy and drugs that have toxic effects on the kidneys
  • Those with liver cirrhosis, liver disease
  • Neurological diseases

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Treatment GroupComplex Decongestive TherapyComplex DecongestivePhysiotherapy program was planned for the affected extremity of the cases. The treatment was performed 5 days a week, for 4 weeks, for a total of 20 sessions and each session was 60 minutes. The treatment included Manual Lymph Drainage, skin care, multi-layer bandaging, exercise and compression stockings.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Liquid Intake-Urine Excretion Tracking4 weeks

The subjects were asked to fill out a 24-hour fluid intake-urine excretion chart to evaluate the difference between fluid intake and urine excretion.

MoistureMeterD Compact Device4 weeks

Tissue dielectric constant technique provides information about the emergence of lymphedema in the early stages and the change in the amount of water under the skin. A high-frequency electromagnetic wave produced by the device is directed to the skin by contacting the probe with the skin. The effective measurement depth is 2.5 mm. The device evaluates the amount of water under the tissue thought to be the beginning of lymphedema.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body Mass Index4 weeks

BMI values of the cases; Calculated and recorded using TANITA MC 780 S Professional Body Analysis Monitor. It was calculated with the formula Body Mass Index (BMI) = Weight/Height2 (kg/m2).

Range of motion4 weeks

Universal Goniometer was used to evaluate joint range of motion. Hip, knee and foot flexion were measured.

Evaluation of edema4 weeks

While the patients were in a semi-sitting position and the foot and ankle were in neutral position, circumference measurements were made with a tape measure at 5 cm intervals from the ankle to the lateral malleolus level towards the proximal. Extremity volume was determined by calculating with the frustum formula. The difference between both extremities (healthy and diseased side) was determined and measurements were made every day before and during treatment.

Lymphedema Quality of Life4 weeks

The patients' quality of life was evaluated using the Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lower extremity, which consists of questions about symptoms, body image, function and mode, respectively.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istanbul Medipol University

🇹🇷

Istanbul, Beykoz, Turkey

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