The role of nursing in acute and community care of women at risk for developing lower limb lymphedema includes (a) engaging women in protecting their legs from infection or trauma pre- and postoperatively, (b) providing nursing care and education during the pre- and postoperative phases, and (c) ensuring that women being discharged are aware of early signs and symptoms of lower limb lymphedema and how to access qualified, specialized therapists so that early and effective management can be initiated.
The diagnosis of lower limb lymphoedema was made in 18% of the total sample: 53% of these were diagnosed within 3 months of treatment, a further 18% within 6 months, 13% within 12 months and the remaining 16% up to 5 years following treatment. Women most at risk for developing LLL were those who had treatment for vulvar cancer with removal of lymph nodes and follow up radiotherapy. For this subsample, the prevalence was 47%. The finding that LLL occurs within the first year is earlier than hitherto generally believed. It is therefore imperative for all health professionals to include care and assessment of the legs particularly during the immediate pre- and postoperative period.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.