Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Disorders of the Lymphatic System Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Disorders of the Lymphatic System related questions and content

The nurse is sending a client to be fitted for a compression garment for the treatment of lymphedema after having a mastectomy and node dissection. What does the nurse inform the client the garment will do to decrease the edema? Select all that apply.

  • A. Increases local tissue pressure
  • B. Reduces edema permanently if worn for 30 days
  • C. Decreases the stretching of the skin
  • D. Helps muscles to propel lymphatic drainage
  • E. Prevents tissue refilling with an excess volume of lymph
Correct Answer: A,C,D,E

Rationale: A compression garment, which consists of multiple layers of elastic material with proximal to distal compression gradation, increases local tissue pressure, decreases stretching of the skin, assists muscles to propel lymphatic drainage, and prevents tissue refilling with an excess volume of lymph. Because the lymph nodes have been removed, the condition will not be able to be permanently reduced by using the garment.