Due
to new terminologies and abbreviations that are emerging in the field of
lymphedema treatment, it is necessary to take note of the new vocabulary used
by some international organizations to denominate the treatment for lymphedema.
Whilst the International Society of Lymphology and Specialized Societies use
the following terms and abbreviations to designate the Intensive Treatment: Combined
physical therapy (CPT), Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) or Complex
Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP, which describes Gold Standard treatment backed
by long-standing experience, some organizations are using the following new and
modified term to describe treatment: “Decongestive
Lymphatic Therapy (DLT)”
It
should be noted that there is a big difference between these descriptions, they
are not the same and they are not substitutive. While the traditional terms (CPT, CDT or CDP) refer to the need for a combination of all elements that are
part of the Conservative Treatment, the new term DLT refers only to treatment
in general without specifying the need Of the incorporation of all elements
included in conservative therapy. The
term “Decongestive
Lymphatic Therapy (DLT)” totally excludes the words: Combined, Complete
and Complex. Therefore it can mean or represent many variations of therapies,
including treatment formed by one single element, such as the use of compression
pump devices (IPC) alone. The term DLT appears as an alternative to define
lymphedema therapy as opposed to conservative treatment, so as to include more
economical treatment options, such as self-treatments or the omission of Manual
Lymph Drainage (DLM) therapy, conducted by specialized physiotherapists.
SUMMARY OF TERMINOLOGY AND ABBREVIATIONS USED TO
DESCRIBE LYMPHEDEMA TREATMENT
Terminology used by the ISL (International Society of
Lymphology):
- CPT -
Combined physical therapy
- CDT -
Complete or Complex Decongestive Therapy
- CDP -
Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy
- MLD - Manual
Lymph Drainage
- IPC -
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression
New terminology not used by the ISL (International
Lymphology Society):
- DLT -
Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy
- SLD -
Simple Lympahtic Drainage (Self applied
Lymph Drainage)
- MLLB -
Multi-layer Lymphedema Bandaging
- MODIFIED MLLB - Modified Multi-layer Bandaging (Self applied Multi-layer bandaging)
- MODIFIED CDT - Modified Complete Decongestive Therapy
What does the Conservative
Gold Standard Treatment, conducted by specialized
physiotherapists include:
1. Skin care
2. Motion exercises
3. Manual lymph
drainage-MLD ( conducted by specialized physiotherapists)
4. Compression Pumps
(it´s optional and can only be used if accompanied by MLD conducted
by specialized physiotherapists)
5. Multi-layered
bandage wrapping (conducted by specialized physiotherapists)
6. Low-stretch
compression garments (they are specific for lymphedema)
What does the new term “Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy (DLT)” include, and what does it not include:
1. It excludes
the keywords: Combined, Complete
or Complex.
2. It can
represent treatment consisting of one sole element, as the use of Pneumatic
Pumps (IPC) alone, without MLD conducted by specialized physiotherapists.
This can have serious side-effects for patients.
3. It can
incorporate simple or modified versions of treatments. These can lead
to irreversible problems on the long run.
4. It can
suppress for the reduction of edemas, bandaging conducted
by specialized physiotherapists, and incorporate patient
self-administrated Multi-layer Bandaging (MODIFIED MLLB). This can cause severe
complications for patients.
5. It can suppress
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) conducted by specialized
physiotherapists, and incorporate Simple Lymphatic Drainage
(SLD), a patient serf-administrated version of MLD. Although
some say that SLD is said to be of
psychological and symptomatic value to some patients, its efficacy as treatment
for lymphedema remains to be proven.
References:
Consensus Document of the IDL- International
Society of Lymphology
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~witte/2013consensus.pdf
(consulted 30/05/2017)
NEW CAMPAIGN FOR 2018
INTERESTING ARTICLES
LYMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE
NEW CAMPAIGN FOR 2018
For global awareness it is being asked that the
WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION,
name:
"LYMPHEDEMA - AWARENESS & CURES"
as its World Health Day campaign - 2018
KATHY BATES
LYMPHEDEMA EMBASSADOR
