NO EVIDENCE OF BENEFIT FROM CLASS-II COMPRESSION STOCKINGS IN THE PREVENTION OF LOWER-LIMB LYMPHEDEMA AFTER INGUINAL LYMPH NODE DISSECTION: RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

MM Stuiver, JD de Rooij, C Lucas, OE Nieweg, S Horenblas, AN van Geel, M van Beurden, NK Aaronson

Abstract


Graduated compression stockings havebeen advocated for prevention of lymphedemaafter inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND)although scientific evidence of their efficacyin preventing lymphedema is lacking. Theprimary objective of this study was to assessthe efficacy of class II compression stockingsfor the prevention of lymphedema in cancerpatients following ILND. Secondary objectiveswere to investigate the influence of stockingson the occurrence of wound complicationsand genital edema, health-related quality oflife (HRQoL) and body image. Eighty patients(45 with melanoma, 35 with urogenital tumors)who underwent ILND at two specialized cancercenters were randomly allocated to class IIcompression stocking use for six months or toa usual care control group. Lymphedema ofthe leg and genital area, wound complications,HRQoL, and body image were assessed atregular intervals prior to and up to 12 monthsafter ILND. No significant differences wereobserved between groups in the incidence ofedema, median time to the occurrence ofedema, incidence of genital edema, frequencyof complications, HRQoL, or body image.Based on the results of the current study,routine prescription of class II graduatedcompression stockings after ILND should bequestioned and alternative preventionstrategies should be considered.

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