Prevention of lymphoedema after axillary clearance by external compression sleeves PLACE randomised trial results. Effects of high BMI.

Around 25% of women undergoing Axillary Clearance (ANC) develop lymphedema (LE). Intervention with a compression garment is recommended to prevent LE but no randomised evidence exists to support this strategy. METHODS: A randomised trial tested standard management versus application of graduated compression garments (20-24 mmHg) to affected arm, for 1 year. Women with node positive breast cancer (n = 1300) undergoing ANC consented to arm volume measurements and those developing a 4-9% relative arm volume increase (RAVI) (subclinical LE) within 9 months post-surgery were randomised. Primary outcome was proportion of patients developing LE (RAVI > 10%) by 24-months in each group. Secondary endpoints included Quality of life in each group. RESULTS: In total 143 patients were randomised (74 no sleeve: 69 compression sleeve) between October 2010 and November 2015. The lymphoedema rate at 24 months in the 'no sleeve' group was at 41%, similar to the 'sleeve' group (30%: p = 0.32). Thirtytwo patients randomised to the 'no sleeve' group had a sleeve applied within 24 months. Body Mass Index (BMI) at randomisation predicted LE at any time point HR 1.04 (CI 1.01-1.08; p = 0.01). Patients with obesity (BMI > 30) had higher rates of LE in both groups (46%) compared to those with BMI < 30 (24%). No difference between patients was found in either group in changes in QoL. Compression sleeves applied after development of LE improved QoL scores (FACT-B p = 0.007:TOI p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Early intervention with External Compression garments does not prevent clinical LE, particularly in women with a high BMI > 30. The use of prophylactic garments in subclinical LE (RAVI < 9%) is unwarranted.

Godoy & Godoy Compression Sleeve in the Treatment of Arm Lymphedema: New Concepts for Materials

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to study on a new low-elastic textile that fulfilled the criteria of fabrics for the manufacture of compression garments to treat lymphedema. The evolution of Godoy & Godoy compression sleeves was performed by following the patients treated for arm lymphedema. Sixty-six patients with ages ranging from 35 to 83 years and a mean of 58.8 years were included in this study. Diagnosis, by the clinical evaluation confirmed by the volumetry, was defined as a volume difference of more than 200 mL between the arms. All the participants were submitted to treatment sessions once, or two times weekly in an outpatient setting. The material used for the compression sleeve in this study was commercialized in Brazil under the name of Gorgurão(r). When high alterations in the pattern of sleeves were made, the patients were monitored by weekly volumetric assessments. The criterion to maintain the modifications in the design was that the hand did not present with edema. By the end of the study, the design of the sleeve was changed so as not to use compression therapy of the hands in 81.8% of the cases; 12.2% continued with compression of the hand, 3.0% stopped using compression completely and 3.0% used only a glove. Thus, Godoy & Godoy compression sleeves could be an efficient option for compression in the treatment of arm lymphedema as they provided better independence in day-to-day activities.