Manual lymphatic drainage adds no further volume reduction to Complete Decongestive Therapy on breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a multicentre, randomised, single-blind trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We investigated the comparability of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) including manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) vs. without MLD in the management of arm lymphoedema in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Patients randomised into either treatment including MLD (T+MLD) or treatment without MLD (T-MLD) received treatment 2×weekly for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the volume reduction (%) of arm lymphoedema at 7-month follow-up. The secondary outcomes were volume reduction after the end of treatment, circumference of the arm, patient experience of heaviness and tension, and health status.

Results

Despite difficulties enrolling the planned number of patients (160), 77 were randomised and 73 (38 in T+MLD, 35 in T-MLD) completed the trial. In both groups, t

SUBMITTER: Tambour M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6251025 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature