best practice for the management of lymphoedema ... - EWMA
best practice for the management of lymphoedema ... - EWMA
best practice for the management of lymphoedema ... - EWMA
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Palliative care<br />
The needs <strong>of</strong> patients with <strong>lymphoedema</strong> who<br />
are o<strong>the</strong>rwise ill with advanced disease and<br />
who require palliative care can be complex.<br />
This document can provide only an indication<br />
<strong>of</strong> supportive measures and treatments that<br />
may be helpful.<br />
Lymphoedema can produce distressing<br />
and debilitating symptoms that affect<br />
lifestyle and function. Patients with<br />
advanced disease may not be able to<br />
tolerate a full programme <strong>of</strong> assessment<br />
and treatment, but require a palliative<br />
approach in which assessment techniques<br />
are modified and individual treatments are<br />
selected to ease specific symptoms (Box 37<br />
and Table 9).<br />
TABLE 9 Management <strong>of</strong> <strong>lymphoedema</strong> in patients with palliative care needs<br />
Problem<br />
Unable to tolerate full<br />
assessment procedures<br />
Fragile or dry skin<br />
Discom<strong>for</strong>t in a swollen limb<br />
Swollen limb due to<br />
dependency or inactivity, or<br />
mainly venous oedema <strong>of</strong><br />
lower limbs with no truncal<br />
oedema<br />
Severe limb or digit swelling<br />
Swelling <strong>of</strong> scrotum and/or<br />
penis<br />
Swelling <strong>of</strong> female genitalia<br />
Truncal oedema<br />
Lymphorrhoea<br />
Loss <strong>of</strong> independence and<br />
restricted mobility<br />
Intervention<br />
BOX 37 Guide to selection <strong>of</strong> treatment in advanced disease<br />
PALLIATIVE<br />
CARE<br />
■ Ascertain type and cause <strong>of</strong> oedema, and contributory factors<br />
■ Identify levels <strong>of</strong> symptoms such as pain<br />
■ Establish significance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> swelling to <strong>the</strong> patient and consider patient<br />
circumstances and perspective<br />
■ Establish realistic goals<br />
■ Consider response to treatment<br />
■ Use modified monitoring and limb volume measurement techniques<br />
■ Maintain skin integrity – refer to skin <strong>management</strong> guidance<br />
■ Reduced compression MLLB with modification to materials used<br />
■ Low pressure compression garments<br />
■ Good skin care and guidance on limb positioning<br />
■ Gentle passive or active exercises<br />
■ Reduced compression MLLB<br />
■ Low pressure compression garment<br />
■ IPC<br />
■ Refer to physio<strong>the</strong>rapist<br />
■ Good skin care<br />
■ Reduced compression MLLB with modification to materials used<br />
■ Close-fitting shorts with Lycra to provide scrotal support<br />
■ Custom made garments and scrotal support <strong>for</strong> use by ambulant patients<br />
■ Scrotal bandaging<br />
■ Teach SLD<br />
■ Lycra shorts with 1cm thick anatomically contoured foam pads<br />
■ Flat knit custom made shorts with foam pads<br />
■ Compression tights with localised padding<br />
■ Teach SLD<br />
■ MLD by practitioner with training at specialist level<br />
■ Teach SLD<br />
■ Supportive garments, eg bodice or bra <strong>for</strong> com<strong>for</strong>t<br />
■ Good skin care and guidance on limb positioning<br />
■ Modified reduced compression MLLB<br />
■ Teach self care measures<br />
■ Teach SLD<br />
■ Refer to occupational <strong>the</strong>rapist or physio<strong>the</strong>rapist as required<br />
■ Appropriate psychological intervention<br />
■ Low classification compression garments or shaped tubigrip if compression garments not tolerated<br />
BEST PRACTICE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF LYMPHOEDEMA 49