Lymph taping and seroma formation post breast cancer
Background: The most common complication of breast cancer treatment is seroma formation. Lymph taping has the potential to prevent or reduce seroma formation, but currently its potential benefits have not been fully investigated. Aims: To investigate the potential of lymph taping to combat seroma formation. Methods: Nine women treated for breast cancer were recruited to this randomised clinical trial; four developed seromas requiring aspiration. Bio-impedance spectroscopy of the breast was used to assess intra and extracellular fluid levels in each of the four quadrants of the breast. From day one postoperatively, lymph taping was applied over the watershed between skin territories on the posterior thorax between the spine and axilla on those allocated to the treatment group. Measurements were repeated at five, nine and 16 days. Results: The extracellular fluid value at t16 was 0.1037 ± 0.0324 (15.3 % decrease) over t1 in the lymph taping group and 0.1066 ± 0.0227 (4.6 % decrease) in the current best practice group (n=4 in each group).After 16 days of treatment, substantial changes were found in burning sensations, tightness and heaviness in favour of the lymph taping group. In particular, pain perception in the lymph taping group improved. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that lymph taping has the ability to reduce extracellular fluid accumulation and improve a range of quality of life measures.
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