Evaluation of Impedance and Reactance in the Intensive Treatment of Lymphoedema

Abstract

Introduction: Lymphoedema is a progressive, chronic, clinical sign of an abnormal accumulation of macromolecules in the interstitial space that causes a buildup of fluids. Aim: To evaluate specific data of bioimpedance such as impedance and reactance in the evolution of lymphoedema treatment. Materials and Methods: A prospective quantitative study was enrolled in the Clinica Godoy-Brazil in May 2013, on 24 patients with bilateral lower limb lymphoedema (48 legs). Bioimpedance variables (impedance and reactance) were evaluated before and after five days of intensive treatment (mechanical lymphatic therapy, cervical stimulation, manual lymphatic therapy and grosgrain compression stockings) of the legs with the results being compared with a control group. The patients of the control group had arm lymphoedema without clinical evidence of swelling of the legs. All patients were weighed and underwent volumetry by the water displacement technique or perimetry (elephantiasis), and multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance before treatment and at the beginning and at the end of each day of treatment. The results are reported as descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis test (Conover-Inman). Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the study and control groups for impedance (p-value <0.0001). The ages of the 17 female and seven male patients ranged from 22 to 75-year-old (mean: 43.7 years) and ages of control group ranged from 42 to 71-year-old (mean: 51.8 years). Conclusion: Impedance and reactance evaluations contribute to the diagnostic evaluation in the follow-up of lymphoedema treatment.

Keywords

• interstitial space
• lower limb
• lymphoedema treatment