References

The unresolved pathophysiology of lymphoedema. 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7090140/

Lymphoedema diagnosis, treatment, and follow up from the view point of physical medicine and rehabilitation services. 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6657795/

British Association of Dermatologist. Lymphoedema. 2019. https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/lymphoedema/

The effectiveness of radiotherapy in preventing disease recurrence after breast cancer surgery. 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960740422000020

Self-care for management of secondary lymphoedema: A systematic review. 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4898789/

Psychosocial impact of lymphoedema: A systematic review of literature from 2004-2011. 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PMC4153404/

Lymphoedema: Pathophysiology and clinical manifestations. 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/SO19096221730381X

Diagnosis and staging of lymphoedema. 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5891654/

Helyer LK, Varnic M, Le LW Obesity as a risk factor for developing postoperative lymphoedema in breast cancer patients. 2010; https://onlinelivrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j1524-4741.2009.00855.x

Lymphoedema from diagnosis to treatment. 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508242/

Lymphoedema and obesity: Is there a link?. 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4393748/

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Liposuction for chronic lymphoedema. 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg723/chapter/1-Recommendations

Breast cancer related lymphoedema: Recent updates on diagnosis, severity, and available treatments. 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8151072/

Anatomical theories of the pathophysiology of cancer related lymphoedema. 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.gov/32456209

The International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphoedema: 2013 consensus document of the international society of lymphoedema. https://ournals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/lymph/article/view/16991/0

Secondary lymphedema: Pathogenesis. 2021. https://jsstd.org/secondary-lymphedema-pathogenesis/

Secondary lymphoedema – causes, diagnosis and treatment

02 May 2024
Volume 35 · Issue 5

Abstract

This chronic condition is potentially distressing for patients. Margaret Perry explains what nurses working in primary care need to know about diagnosis and management of this condition.

Lymphoedema is a long-term chronic disease which can have a devastating effect on the affected persons quality of life. The condition can be classified as primary or secondary, the latter being the commonest type. This article will therefore focus on secondary lymphoedema and will look at causes, diagnosis, treatment and complications, with the hope that the information given will give nurses and non-medical prescribers more confidence in assessing patients presenting with symptoms of this unpleasant disease.

Lymphoedema is a long-term chronic condition, caused by a problem with the normal functioning of the lymphatic system. There is swelling to an area of the body, and this may be localised to a small area, or be more widely spread causing swelling to a larger area such as an arm or a leg. Lymphoedema may be primary or secondary with the latter being the most prevalent type. This article will therefore focus predominantly on secondary lymphoedema and hopes to give nurses and non-medical prescribers more confidence when faced with patients presenting with this problem.

The condition is generally classified as either:

Primary lymphoedema: This is an inherited or congenital condition that causes a malformation of the lymphatics system, most often because of genetic mutation (Sleigh and Manna 2023). Primary lymphoedema can be subdivided into three categories as follows: (Sleigh and Manna 2023).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Practice Nursing and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for general practice nurses. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to clinical or professional articles

  • New content and clinical newsletter updates each month