Table 1.
Characteristics of studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis
| Reference | Inclusion criteria | No. of patients | Age, years, (mean ± SD) | Intervention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Treatment | ||||
| Andersen, 2000 |
Symptoms of lymphedema; 20 mm circumference or 200 ml volume difference between arms |
C: 22 |
C: 56 (29 to 77)a |
C: Sleeve and glove compression 32 to 40 mmHg + exercises + skin care + safety precautions |
| |
|
I: 20 |
I: 53 (25 to 73) |
I: C + MLD 8 times in 2 weeks |
| Didem, 2005 |
2-50 mm circumference difference between arms; lymphedema > 12 months after surgery |
C: 26 |
C: 54.7 ± 12.1 |
C: Bandaging; elevation; head, neck and shoulder exercise, 3 days/week for 4 weeks |
| |
|
I: 27 |
I: 53.1 ± 3.05 |
I: C + MLD |
| Johansson, 1998 |
>10% volume difference between arms |
C: 12 |
C: 57.5 (47.5-69.5)a |
C: Sleeve compression for 2 weeks + SPC 40 to 60 mmHg 2 hours/day for 2 weeks |
| |
|
I: 12 |
I: 64 (52.5-69.5) |
I: Sleeve compression 2 weeks + MLD for 5 days/weeks for 2 weeks |
| Johansson, 1999 |
>10% volume difference between arms |
C: 18 |
C: 64 ± 12 |
C: Bandage compression for 3 weeks |
| |
|
I: 20 |
I: 58 ± 12 |
I: C + MLD applied for 5 days during final weeks |
| McNeely, 2004 |
150 ml volume difference between arms |
C: 24 |
C: 58 ± 13 |
C: Bandage compression for 4 weeks |
| |
|
I: 21 |
I: 63 ± 13 |
I: C + MLD for 45 minutes/day 5 days/week for 4 weeks |
| Sitzia, 2002 |
Lymphedema of one arm secondary to treatment for breast cancer |
C: 13 |
C: 75 ± 10.2 |
C: SLD 30 minutes/day, 5 days/weeks for 2 weeks + bandage + exercises |
| |
|
I: 15 |
I: 68 ± 10.4 |
I: MLD 90 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks + bandage + exercises |
| Williams, 2002 |
>10% volume difference between arms |
G1: 15 |
A: 63 ± 13 |
G1: MLD for 3 weeks, then no treatment for 6 weeks, then SLD for 3 weeks |
| |
|
G2: 16 |
B: 58 ± 13 |
G2: SLD for 3 weeks, then no treatment for 6 weeks, then MLD for 3 weeks |
| Szolnoky, 2009 |
Lymphedema >12 months after surgery |
G1: 13 |
G1: 54.8 |
G1: MLD 60 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks |
| |
|
G2: 14 |
G2: 56.6 |
G2: MLD for 30 minutes/day then SPC 50 mmHg for 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks |
|
Prevention | ||||
| Devoogdt, 2011 |
Patients after breast-cancer surgery |
C: 81 |
C: 54.5 ± 11.1 |
C: Exercise therapy 30 minutes/session |
| |
|
I: 77 |
I: 55.8 ± 12.5 |
I: C + MLD 30 minutes/session for 40 sessions |
| Torres Lacomba, 2010 |
Patients after breast-cancer surgery |
C: 60 |
C: 52.9 ± 12.5 |
C: Educational strategy |
| I: 60 | I: 52.9 ± 10.7 | I: C + MLD + massage + exercise | ||
Abbreviations: C, control; I, intervention; G, group; MLD, manual lymphatic drainage; SLD, simple lymph drainage; SPC, sequential pneumatic compression.
Values are mean ± standard deviation, except for amean (range).