Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Pneumatic Compression Pump Treatment is an innovative treatment that has helped numerous individuals that struggle with lymphatic fluid retention, venous insufficiency, and also non healing wounds, which are traditionally caused by the neuropathy associated with diabetes.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a build-up of lymphatic fluid throughout the body, and it is usually a secondary issue that arises after cancer treatment or lymph node removal, as well as a critical indicator for individuals that an illness or adverse reaction is occurring in their bodies. Women are more susceptible to the disorder and often are unfortunately underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed altogether.
Lymphedema can cause physical debilitations and physiological distress. It is a threatening disorder that needs to be treated by a certified lymphatic therapist, who is trained to properly massage the body and lymph nodes to remove the excess fluid safely. However, it can also be treated with pneumatic compression pump treatment.
Diabetic Ulcers-Wound Care
Because of this nerve damage, people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing foot ulcers. A foot wound may not sound overly alarming to most people, but foot ulcers can be life-threatening. These small sores go undetected due to the lack of feeling. If a patient delays treatment, foot ulcers can lead to amputation, strokes, heart attacks and severe infections that can spread throughout the entire body.
Venous Insufficiency
The most severe cause of swollen legs is Heart Failure. While there are several types of heart failure, the primary concern is that the heart cannot pump blood and oxygen efficiently throughout the body. The heart becomes enlarged due to its overcompensation of trying to adequately pump. The muscle mass of the heart thickens, and the heart tries to beat as fast as possible to keep up with its demand. Because the blood vessels narrow to try and compensate for the heart lack of ability to supply blood, the narrowing causes severe swelling in the legs and feet.
Pneumatic Gradient Compression Devices
These devices wrap around the patients limbs or can also cover the entire lower region. Air is used to fill the compression wrap to provide pressure in specific areas. This helps to regulate circulation and therefore is advantageous for venous insufficiency, non-healing ulcers and lymphedema. The wrap is usually worn for a specified period of time each day to increase healing and improve overall health.
In a recent study on pneumatic compression devices, the outcomes were as follows: Chronic wounds present a significant challenge, because there are few available treatment options for timely healing. Pneumatic compression devices have been used in a number of different types of wounds, including chronic wounds. They are believed to hasten wound healing by maintaining a moist environment, removing wound exudates, increasing local blood flow, increasing granulation tissue formation, applying mechanical pressure to promote wound closure, and reducing bacterial loads in the wound. Multiple nonrandomized, noncontrolled studies have reported that the use of these devices results in faster healing times and more successful closures. Five small randomized, controlled trials have also shown favorable outcomes with the use of pneumatic compression devices compared with conventional treatment, such as diuretics, diet modifications and compression stockings.1
To find out more, contact Lester James with Progressive Wound Solutions by calling 239-249-1710
Reference:
1. M. Shirakawa, JAMA Network, Topical Negative Pressure Devices
Use for Enhancement of Healing Chronic Wounds Arch Dermatol. 2005;141(11):1449-1453. doi:10.1001/archderm.141.11.1449
