Overview
- A chronic oedematous condition secondary to disruption or inadequate lymph drainage of an area
- Primary lymphoedema is an idiopathic condition usually presenting in the first three decades of life
- It is a result of faulty development of the lymphatic system
- Secondary lymphoedema is due to another cause (e.g. after lymph node clearance for cancer, deep vein thrombosis and obesity)
- Chronic arm lymphoedema is common after axillary node clearance for breast cancer
- Areas of lymphoedema are prone to infection
- Treatment options include:
- Massage techniques to manually drain the lymphatic system
- Compression bandages
- Specific exercises
- Surgery is rarely used
N.B. Do not take blood from a limb with lymphoedema