Abstract: Objective To explore the effectiveness of Complex Decongestion Therapy (CDT) in the treatment of lower limb lymphedema related to pelvic malignant tumor. Methods Since 2011, 76 patients with unilateral lower limb lymphedema after radical operation of pelvic tumors were treated, composed of 70 women after the operation of cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and 6 men after the operation of rectal cancer and prostate cancer. According to the circumference of edema, patients were divided into three groups: mild in 30 cases, moderate in 24 cases, severe in 22 cases. Each group accepted 1 treatment course (20 days). The result of CDT treatment was evaluated with measurement of circumference of extremities and Multiple-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results After 1 treatment course, all patients showed significant reduction in circumference of the edematous limbs (P<0.01) and edema fluid in tissue (P<0.01). The patients in severe group and moderate group showed more efficacy in water reduce. The patients in severe group showed more efficacy in circumference reduce. Conclusion Complex decongestive therapy is effective and safe to treat lower limb lymphedema after radical operation of pelvic tumor. It is also applied to each period of secondary lymphedema of lower limb after operation, including severe lymphedema.

Key words: Lymphedema, Manual lymph drainage, Radical operation of pelvic tumor, Lower limb lymphedema