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01-11-2024 | Lymphedema | Editorial

Post-operative care for patients following surgical treatment of lymphedema

Authors: Ann Marie Flores, Mei Rosemary Fu, Karen J. Bock, Elizabeth Campione, Kathleen Francis, Corinne Kellerman, Traci L. Norris, Stacy Tylka

Published in: Medical Oncology | Issue 11/2024

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Abstract

Surgical treatments are promising for the treatment of lymphedema. It is important for patients, healthcare providers, and lymphedema community to understand that surgical treatments currently are not a cure for lymphedema but have provided promising options for patients. Post-operative care for patients following surgical treatment of lymphedema is vital to optimize and sustain patient outcomes. This expert-consensus statement addresses current practice and research needs for standardized post-operative care, a core set of outcome measures, quality of care, and training of healthcare providers. Current research and clinical practice support non-surgical lymphedema therapy, also known as conservative therapy of lymphedema (e.g., compression therapy, or manual lymph drainage, or Complete Decongestive Therapy) as an essential part of post-operative care. Importantly, patient education should focus on patients’ understanding that surgery is not a cure and the importance to adhere to post-operative care and life-long self-monitoring to sustain surgical results of limb volume reduction, relief of symptoms, and mitigate known or ongoing risk factors for recurrence of lymphedema. To optimize patient outcomes, it is crucial to have a multidisciplinary professional team consisting of well-qualified and credentialed healthcare providers participating in ongoing training and education. The essentials recommended by this expert-consensus are an initial and foundational step to build clinical standards for best practice and provide directions for future research.
Literature
4.
go back to reference Executive Committee of the International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2020 consensus document of the international society of lymphology. Lymphology. 2020;53(1):3–19. Executive Committee of the International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2020 consensus document of the international society of lymphology. Lymphology. 2020;53(1):3–19.
Metadata
Title
Post-operative care for patients following surgical treatment of lymphedema
Authors
Ann Marie Flores
Mei Rosemary Fu
Karen J. Bock
Elizabeth Campione
Kathleen Francis
Corinne Kellerman
Traci L. Norris
Stacy Tylka
Publication date
01-11-2024
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Medical Oncology / Issue 11/2024
Print ISSN: 1357-0560
Electronic ISSN: 1559-131X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-024-02420-7

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