title: A novel arm sleeve for upper extremity lymphedema: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety and efficacy of a novel arm sleeve composed of a conventional arm sleeve extending to a wider area of the body.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five subjects with post-mastectomy upper extremity lymphedema, who had already been using their own arm sleeve, used a brand-new conventional arm sleeve for 2 weeks, followed by a novel arm sleeve for 2 weeks. The adverse events, arm-related symptoms, interface pressures, and subcutaneous fluid distributions observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of the novel arm sleeve resulted in a graduated compression extending to the shoulder (forearm, 21.8 ± 3.7 mmHg; upper arm, 15.2 ± 3.3 mmHg; shoulder, 8.8 ± 3.1 mmHg). By eliminating the wring seen in the conventional arm sleeve, the disturbed proximal diffusion of the subcutaneous fluid and venous occlusion were successfully avoided, as confirmed by MRI. No adverse event or worsening of arm-related symptoms was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel arm sleeve seemed to provide graduated compression to a wider area, allowing improved subcutaneous fluid and venous drainage without any adverse events. Therefore, the novel arm sleeve may be recommended as a compression therapy option for upper extremity lymphedema.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Saiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakutani
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyasu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morikage
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Koshiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samura
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimikazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamano
keywords: arm; compression; lymphedema; sleeve