Pneumatic Compression in the Treatment of Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema: Systematic Review

Abstract

Despite the improvements in surgical techniques for breast cancer treatments, lymphedema is still a common complication. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of the pneumatic compression in post-mastectomy lymphedema. Quasi-randomized controlled clinical trials published from 1966 to 2009 in the databases indexed in PubMed/Medline and SciELO were selected by using the key words pneumatic compression, lymphedema, mastectomy and breast cancer. The articles were evaluated according to the individual components of methodological quality assessment. Three studies of low methodological quality involving 156 women with postmastectomy lymphedema were included. One of the studies presented a significant difference (p<0.05) when the pneumatic compression was associated with complex physiotherapy. However, when compared to a control group and manual lymphatic drainage, there was no significant difference among the groups. There were no significant effects concerning skin tonicity, joint mobility and tension and heaviness sensations. Due to the low methodological quality of the studies included, there is not enough evidence about the efficacy of this treatment.