Abstract

BRIGIDIO, Patrícia Amador Franco et al. Reducing the volume of lower limb lymphedema with mechanical lymphatic drainage RAGodoy® evaluated by bioimpedance. Angiol Cir Vasc [online]. 2013, vol.9, n.4, pp.154-157. ISSN 1646-706X.

Lymphedema is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the soft tissues, resulting from a dysfunction of the lymphatic system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mechanical lymphatic drainage with the device RAGodoy® in body composition and reducing lower limb lymphedema by bioelectrical impedance. In clinical trial were evaluated and treated 14 patients with grade II lymphedema of the lower limbs. Patients underwent a continuous session of two hours of mechanical lymphatic drainage through the apparatus RAGodoy®. The measurement of lymphedema and its response to treatment was made by bioimpedance performed immediately before and after the mechanical lymphatic drainage. We observed a statistically significant reduction (p <0.0001) of lower limb volume treatise on all evaluations. We concluded that the results demonstrated that lymphatic drainage mechanical, RAGodoy® device during two consecutive hours was effective to signifi cantly reduce lymphedema of the legs.

Keywords : Lymphoedema; Lymphatic drainage; Treatment.

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