The circulatory pneumatic apparatus for lymphedema of the limb

✍ Scribed by J. L. Gan; T. S. Chang; W. Liu

• Book ID: 104656275
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 385 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1435-0130
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00188553

✦ Synopsis

Lymphedema due to various causes can be treated by conservative or operative techniques. Microsurgery sometimes gives excellent results; sometimes it fails completely. Pressotherapy, based on physiological principles, has recently been developed; pressure applied directly to the limb is most beneficial. The circulatory pneumatic apparatus, a new air compression device, has been designed to treat limb lymphedema. It is thought to promote tissue fluid flow through the interstitium or existing lymphatics. In the present study 64 patients with unilateral limb edema have been treated using the circulatory pneumatic apparatus. The authors conclude their pressotherapy seems to be a satisfactory method of reducing limb volume and circumference, without improving the associated erysipelas.