Complex Decongestive Therapy in the intensive care of lymphedema: systematic review

ABSTRACT Lymphedema is characterized by accumulation of proteins and fluids in the interstice, with physical and psychological changes. Among the physiotherapeutic techniques used to reduce lymphedema we have the complex decongestive therapy. The objective of this review is to identify evidence for the practice of complex decongestive therapy for intensive care of lymphedema. A search was carried out in the PubMed, EMBASE and PEDro databases. The articles chosen were randomized and cohort studies, which have been evaluated and selected independently by two reviewers who evaluated the methodological quality of the studies within the PEDro Scale. The search resulted in 414 studies, reduced to seven eligible studies for quality analysis, classified by PEDro scale as high quality and moderate effectiveness studies. The analyzed articles showed good methodological quality and their results showed the effectiveness of complex decongestive therapy in reducing the volume of lymphedema in intensive care.