ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Acta Phlebologica 2019 August;20(2):57-60

DOI: 10.23736/S1593-232X.19.00446-6

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Lymphedema and the mobilization of intracellular and extracellular fluids with intensive treatment

Jose M. PEREIRA DE GODOY ^{1, 2} ✉, Henrique J. PEREIRA DE GODOY ³, Ana C. PEREIRA DE GODOY ^{4, 5}, Thatiany GRACIANO DE MARQUI ³, M. Fátima GUERREIRO GODOY ^{1, 5}

¹ Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medicine School of Sao Jose do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil; ² Brazilian National Council for Research and Development (CNPq), Brasilia, Brazil; ³ School of Medicine, Godoy Clinic, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso (UFMT), Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil; ⁴ Unit of Pediatric Intensive Therapy, Santa Casa de São Paulo, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil; ⁵ Godoy Clinic, São Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the mobilization of intracellular and extracellular fluids in the limbs and trunk with intensive treatment for low limb lymphedema.
METHODS: Ten patients with lower limb lymphedema were evaluated: seven females and three males. The diagnosis of lymphedema was based on clinical findings and electrical bioimpedance analysis. All patients were submitted to intensive treatment from six to eight hours a day for one week. Treatment consisted of mechanical lymphatic drainage (six to eight hours), manual drainage (one hour), cervical stimulation (15 minutes) and compression stockings. The patients were submitted to a clinical evaluation and electrical bioimpedance analysis before and after treatment.
RESULTS: A significant reduction in intracellular and extracellular water was found in the affected limbs and an increase in intracellular and extracellular water was found in the upper limbs and trunk.
CONCLUSIONS: Intensive treatment for lymphedema using the Godoy method leads to the mobilization of fluids throughout the body, with a reduction in the volume of affected limbs and an increase in unaffected limbs.

KEY WORDS: Lymphedema; Therapeutics; Manual lymphatic drainage