Summary of Complete Decongestive Therapy

Complete Decongestive Therapy is new to the United States. It is the most effective and physiologic treatment of Iymphedema available today. When performed by well trained professionals, the results are consistently superior to those achieved by surgery or pneumatic pumps. Besides being noninvasive, CDT requires no anesthesia, no surgery and no risk to the patient.

The uniqueness of Complete Decongestive Therapy is that it decongests the whole Iymph system by Manual Lymph Drainage of the trunk before any attempt is made to decompress the swollen limb. Decongesting the Iymph system this way opens up alternative Iymph vessels which can then receive much more Iymph fluid. Once the whole system is decongested, the Iymph fluid in the swollen limb is directed gently and gradually into a circulatory system that is now ready and able to handle it.

Over time, the situation continues to improve. The Iymph vessels dilate and carry larger and larger volumes of Iymph from the affected limb. In addition, CDT is able to soften areas of scarring and hardening that have previously developed in the limb.