Effectiveness and Clinical Relevance of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression and Lymphatic Drainage Pump Massage Devices inPatients With 1st and 2nd Degree Lower Extremity Lymphedema: AnIntegrative Review and Multicenter Evaluation

Abstract

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC), historically termed Apparative Intermittierende Kompressionstherapie (AIK), is a central component of contemporary lymphedema management. This integrative review synthesizes mechanistic, historical, and therapeutic foundations of IPC with findings from a multicenter clinical evaluation using advanced multi-chamber lymphatic drainage pump systems. Among 448 patients with Stage I–II lower extremity lymphedema treated for three months, 93.08% reported reduced swelling, 86.6% reported decreased pain, and 66.51% experienced combined improvement. These results align with current evidence demonstrating IPC’s capacity to enhance lymphatic flow, reduce edema, improve microcirculation, and support venous hemodynamics. IPC is shown to be clinically beneficial in both decongestive and long-term maintenance phases of lymphedema care.