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document
The role of pneumatic compression in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema . A randomized phase III study . BACKGROUND Pneumatic compression is a frequently prescribed physical therapy for patients affected by postmastectomy lymphedema but , despite its wide use , its efficacy has not been demonstrated in phase III studies . We performed a randomized study comparing pneumatic compression versus no treatment in patients with postmastectomy lymphedema . PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with monolateral postmastectomy lymphedema were randomized to receive two cycles of intermittent pneumatic compression ( PC group ) , i.e. , five two-hour sessions per week for two weeks , to be repeated after a five-week interval , or to no treatment ( control group ) . The patients in both groups were instructed as to the prophylactic hygienic care of the limb . Lymphedema was assessed by the sum of differences in circumference measurements between affected and normal limbs ( 'delta ' ) . Response was defined as a > or = 25 % reduction in delta value . RESULTS Eighty patients entered the study . No statistically significant differences in response rates between the two groups were observed : 20 % in the control group ( 95 % CI : 9 % -36 % ) , 25 % in the PC group ( 95 % CI : 13 % -41 % , P = 0.59 ) . The absolute mean decrease in delta value was 1.9 +/- 3.7 cm in the PC group and 0.5 +/- 3.3 cm in the control group . CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that intermittent pneumatic compression has a limited clinical role in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema . Efforts to prevent this complication should be undertaken .
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Intervention_Physical
pneumatic compression
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Intervention_Physical
Pneumatic compression
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Intervention_Physical
pneumatic compression
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Intervention_Physical
pneumatic compression
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Intervention_Control
no treatment
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Intervention_Physical
intermittent pneumatic compression
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Outcome_Physical
Lymphedema
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Outcome_Physical
circumference measurements between affected and normal limbs ( 'delta '
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Outcome_Physical
response rates
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Outcome_Physical
decrease in delta value
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Participant_Condition
postmastectomy lymphedema
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Participant_Condition
postmastectomy lymphedema
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Participant_Condition
postmastectomy lymphedema
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Participant_Condition
monolateral postmastectomy lymphedema
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Participant_Sample-size
Eighty