Strong Heart and Vascular Center
Division of Vascular Surgery
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Contact Us
New & Existing
Patients
If you'd like
to schedule an appointment, call us at 585-341-7030.
Referring Physicians
To refer a patient
for a consultation, call us at 585-341-7030.
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Lymphedema
What is Lymphedema?
Lymphedema occurs when lymphatic fluid
accumulates in certain
parts of the body, usually the arms or legs - resulting in swelling of those
areas.
The lymphatic system consists of lymph vessels and lymph nodes
that run throughout the body. Lymph vessels collect the lymph
fluid, a fluid that removes waste materials, bacteria and
viruses from the body's cells. The lymph vessels transport this
fluid
to the lymph
nodes, where the
waste materials are filtered out, and the fluid is returned
to the blood system.
If the vessels or nodes become
damaged,
the movement of the lymph fluid is interrupted and it accumulates
in certain areas of the body.
Learn more about lymphedema
People at risk - such as those scheduled for surgery involving
lymph nodes - should be aware of the initial sign of
limb swelling and report
any of the following symptoms to their physician...
Diagnosing Lymphedema
After discussing medical history and symptoms (especially related
to recent surgery) and a physical exam, a health care provider
may request one of the following tests to rule other conditions
that lead to swollen limbs, such as chronic
venous insufficiency. These tests include:
People with lymphedema can take precautions to keep it
from getting worse. Most efforts to prevent or control lymphedema
focus on lifestyle
changes to protect an affected limb. These precautions include:
