Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Simon, P.
Effects of manual lymphatic drainage on hemodynamic responses
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medizinische Universitaet Graz; 2021. pp. 49
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Goswami Nandu
- Steuber Bianca
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Introduction: Besides the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system is the most important transport system in the human body. Dysregulation of this system can lead to accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the tissue, resulting in lymphedema with several thousand people affected in Austria. Since the cardiac and lymphatic systems are in constant cooperation, it can only be assumed that if one system is disturbed, the other is also affected.However, limited knowledge is available on how lymphedema therapy affects cardiovascular responses. Therefore, the response of the cardiovascular system to the orthostatic changes will be examined. Aims & Objectives: This study deals with the examination and measurement of various vital parameters of patients with lymphedema, which will be collected, during a sit-to-stand test, before and after a manual lymphatic drainage. The aim of this thesis is investigate how complete decongestive lymphedema therapy, specifically manual lymphatic drainage influences hemodynamic responses? Methods: A total of 11 male and female patients (57 ± 8 years old, 167.2 ± 8.3 cm tall, 91.0 ± 23.5 kg weight) with stage II lower extremity lymphedema were chosen for the study. Treatment of lymphedema was based on current standards and was performed at the center of lymphatic disorders, Wolfsberg. It consisted of manual lymphatic drainage for 30 minutes, followed by application of compression bandages. Hemodynamic responses were recorded during a sit-to-stand test, before and after lymphatic drainage over several timepoints over three weeks of therapy. Heart rate, cardiac ejection rate, stroke volume and blood pressure were measured by electrocardiography, plethysmography and impendance cardiography. This thesis only deals with the collected values of day 1 of the study. Results: Most of the expected differences in the parameters were not statistically significant. There were recurrent trends toward significance in the values, but too little to be described as significant. Heart rate significantly changed in epoch 6 (from 94 to 86 beats per minute (p<0,001)), epoch 7 (from 92 to 85 bpm (p=0,059)), epoch 8 (from 93 to 83 bpm (p=0,008)), epoch 9 (from 90 to 84 bpm (p=0,044)) and over all epochs (F(9,72)=2,53; p=0,014). Significance was also achieved in the epochs of the cardiac output (F(9,18)=4,32; p=0,004). Conclusions: The results showed that manual lymphatic drainage had an influence on hemodynamic responses. The main factors for the changed values could be the higher available volume in the circulatory system, as well as the reduced pressure in the tissue due to lymphedema.