Lymphedema

It is important for nurses to strive toward excellence. Our patients deserve the best we are able to give, and sometimes we need to look critically at how we care and how we might improve outcomes. In theory, we update practice because we read research that indicates a change needs to be incorporated into what we do. More often, maybe we follow a colleague and like what we see, or the patient indicates a preference and we change an approach. It may be that a company representative visits and what they say makes sense, has the support of management, and we gladly (or not) incorporate a product into our practice. Looking at a standard of practice and reflecting on how we measure up require honesty and an openness that some might shy away from. Such reflective practice, combined with clinical supervision, leads to high-quality care and is an excellent method of reviewing, updating, and improving practice for patients with problems of the lower leg.

Compression therapy is a well-established treatment modality for a number of conditions, including venous disorders, thrombosis, lymphedema, and lipedema. It is also very effective in treating various kinds of edema.1 Based on patient diagnostic data, many patients with these conditions can benefit from targeted compression therapy.

Brandy Mckeown, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CLWT In this interview, WoundCon speaker Brandy Mckeown shares her insights on new innovations and practical knowledge regarding the treatment of lymphedema and lipedema.

By Janet Wolfson, PT, CLWT, CWS, CLT-LANA I have blogged in the past about the Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA), and I'm happy to report that the LTA is now a federal law, which was passed on December 23, 2022, by the 117th Congress. It will amend Sec. 1861 [42 USC 1395x] of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for compression supplies that are “conservative, time-proven cornerstones of lymphedema treatment.”

As lymphedema and wound care therapists at Penn Therapy & Fitness, we often see scenarios like those in the cases described in our abstract presented as a poster at the recent Symposium on Advanced Wound Care. Conditions such as lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency, and phlebolymphedema that manifest in patients with wounds can lead to catastrophic and life-threatening skin breakdown (degradation). Complications of infections associated with lymphedema include cellulitis, lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, and ulcerations where protein-rich fluid provides a perfect medium for microbial growth.