Contraindications & Precautions for Lymphatic Therapy Flashcards
7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Contraindications & Precautions for Lymphatic Therapy flashcards as text
A patient actively receiving chemotherapy presents for lymphedema management. The primary treatment concern is:
Answer: Increased infection risk due to chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression
Chemotherapy causes immunosuppression, so meticulously monitoring skin integrity is essential to prevent infection during CDT.
When treating a patient with a pacemaker, the CLT must:
Answer: Avoid electrical therapeutic modalities and exercise caution with thorax MLD
Electrical modalities are contraindicated with pacemakers, and thorax MLD requires extra caution, but extremity MLD is generally safe to perform.
For a patient with obesity and lower extremity lymphedema, the appropriate clinical approach is to:
Answer: Adapt MLD technique, bandaging, and garments to the patient's anatomy
CDT principles remain applicable for patients with obesity, but techniques, padding layers, and compression garments must be individually adapted to function properly.
Which precaution is recommended when performing MLD in the neck and thorax region on a patient with bronchial asthma?
Answer: Monitor for respiratory distress and be prepared to modify or stop treatment
Asthma is a relative contraindication for neck/thorax MLD; treatment can proceed with close respiratory monitoring and readiness to stop if bronchospasm is triggered.
A therapist observes a red, warm, tender streak extending from the patient's lymphedematous leg toward the groin. The correct action is:
Answer: Refer immediately to a physician as this indicates likely lymphangitis
Red streaking toward the lymph nodes (lymphangitis) indicates a serious spreading infection requiring immediate medical referral, not lymphatic therapy.
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) threshold below which standard compression therapy is generally contraindicated is:
Answer: Below 0.8
An ABI below 0.8 generally contraindicates standard compression therapy due to significant arterial insufficiency that compression could worsen.
When a relative contraindication to CDT is identified, the best clinical course of action is:
Answer: Modify treatment parameters, obtain physician consultation if needed, and monitor response closely
Relative contraindications require modifying the treatment approach, consulting with the physician when indicated, and closely monitoring the patient's response.