Boris M, Weindorf S, Lasinski BB.
The risk of genital edema after external pump compression for lower limb lymphedema.
Lymphology 1998 Mar;31(1):15-20

Department of Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, Woodbury, New York, USA.

In a single lymphedema treatment facility, 128 consecutive patients with lower limb
lymphedema were retrospectively analyzed for the development of genital edema. The
patients were separated for analysis on the basis of who used or did not use
compressive pump therapy. Of the 128 patients with lower limb lymphedema, 75
received no pump therapy, and 53 used pumps. Of the 75 who did not use pump
compression, only 2 had genital edema. Of the 53 patients who used pump
compression, 23 patients developed genital edema after pump therapy (p < .0001).
The incidence of genital edema was unaffected by age, sex, grade or duration of
lymphedema, whether lymphedema was primary or secondary, whether a single or
sequential pump was used, the pressure level applied, or duration or hours per
day of pump therapy. Compressive pump therapy for lower limb lymphedema produces
an unacceptably high incidence of genital edema.