REVIEW ARTICLE
Assessment of Postmastectomy Lymphedema and Current Treatment Approaches
 
 
More details
Hide details
1
State Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Erzurum, Turkey
 
 
Publication date: 2012-04-10
 
 
Corresponding author
Hulya Uzkeser   

State Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 25240 Erzurum-Turkey
 
 
Eur J Gen Med 2012;9(2):130-134
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Lymphedema can be defined as the abnormal accumulation of protein-rich interstitial fluid that occurs primarly as a consequence of malformation or acquired distruption of the lymphatic circulation. Upper extremity lymphedema can develop in a significant proportion of patients after mastectomy. Currently, complex decongestive physical therapy is accepted as international standard treatment approach for the treatment of lymphedema. Complex decongestive physical therapy includes skin care, manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandage, compression garments, exercise and sometimes addition of intermittent pneumatic compression pump. When conservative treatments is not sufficient surgical intervention is an alternative to the patients. In this review, current treatment approaches are discussed.
eISSN:2516-3507
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top