Dennis B.
Acquired lymphedema: a chart review of nine women's responses to intervention.
Am J Occup Ther. 1993 Oct;47(10):891-9. Review.

The medical records of nine women who had acquired lymphedema as a sequela
to a modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer were analyzed
to ascertain what factors, phenomena, or experiences in their
lymphedema treatment may have influenced outcomes. The women were
identified as having either successful or poor outcomes.
Their conservative lymphedema treatment consisted of compression pumps,
compression garments, and, in some cases, manual lymph drainage. The
qualitative analysis of records implicated the following factors in the
outcome of conservative lymphedema treatment for these women: (a) the amount
of delay before starting compression treatment, (b) the size of
the lymphedematous arm when treatment started, (c) the availability
of social and financial supports, and (d) the presence of
complicating health problems. The findings of this study cannot be
generalized; however, further scientific inquiry into the phenomena
that lie behind treatment outcome variations could lead to
more effective treatment approaches.