Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
7-5-2024 1:00 PM
End Date
7-5-2024 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction: The current literature regarding pregnancy is lacking data on a significant population: individuals with lymphedema. This void of information ultimately creates barriers to understanding the pathology surrounding lymphedema during pregnancy and the potential for poorer outcomes due to clinical practice that is not evidence-based. This literature review aims to provide a brief overview of anatomical and physiological changes that occur with lymphedema and pregnancy, summarize the current literature on the effects of pregnancy on the lymphatic system and lymphedema, and analyze the data to develop a clinical reference for evidence-based practice.
Methods: A One search, google scholar, and Pubmed search of the following keywords: pregnancy, lymphedema, edema, hormonal influence on vessels resulted in 23 articles meeting criteria. The extraction of data is summarized by qualitative methods and presented as a table. Due to the paucity of available articles, only those where the edema was a result of other non-related pathologies were excluded.
Results: During pregnancy, physiological and morphological changes occur. This is no different for a pregnant woman with lymphedema. Although there is evidence to support negative correlations between these changes and the lymphatic system during pregnancy, not all will experience worsening of their pre-diagnosed lymphedema. Alternatively, women with no previous history of lymphedema may be diagnosed during pregnancy. The current research regarding this subject is insufficient to make definitive conclusions on the direct effects of pregnancy and lymphedema, but several hypotheses can be made. Regardless of the events that impact the lymphatic system during pregnancy, there is strong evidence to suggest that several interventions may be employed even in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Discussion: This article is the first step in understanding the effects of pregnancy on lymphatics since it is a challenging topic to get accurate data for fear of harm to the fetus and mother. This article highlights various avenues that can be expounded upon for future research endeavors.
Embargo Period
6-27-2024
Included in
Pregnancy and Lymphedema: is there a link?
Suwanee, GA
Introduction: The current literature regarding pregnancy is lacking data on a significant population: individuals with lymphedema. This void of information ultimately creates barriers to understanding the pathology surrounding lymphedema during pregnancy and the potential for poorer outcomes due to clinical practice that is not evidence-based. This literature review aims to provide a brief overview of anatomical and physiological changes that occur with lymphedema and pregnancy, summarize the current literature on the effects of pregnancy on the lymphatic system and lymphedema, and analyze the data to develop a clinical reference for evidence-based practice.
Methods: A One search, google scholar, and Pubmed search of the following keywords: pregnancy, lymphedema, edema, hormonal influence on vessels resulted in 23 articles meeting criteria. The extraction of data is summarized by qualitative methods and presented as a table. Due to the paucity of available articles, only those where the edema was a result of other non-related pathologies were excluded.
Results: During pregnancy, physiological and morphological changes occur. This is no different for a pregnant woman with lymphedema. Although there is evidence to support negative correlations between these changes and the lymphatic system during pregnancy, not all will experience worsening of their pre-diagnosed lymphedema. Alternatively, women with no previous history of lymphedema may be diagnosed during pregnancy. The current research regarding this subject is insufficient to make definitive conclusions on the direct effects of pregnancy and lymphedema, but several hypotheses can be made. Regardless of the events that impact the lymphatic system during pregnancy, there is strong evidence to suggest that several interventions may be employed even in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Discussion: This article is the first step in understanding the effects of pregnancy on lymphatics since it is a challenging topic to get accurate data for fear of harm to the fetus and mother. This article highlights various avenues that can be expounded upon for future research endeavors.