Lymphedema Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the number 1 cause of lymphedema? - CORRECT ANSWER - Filariasis;
mosquito borne parasite found in tropical areas
What is the primary cause of lymphedema in the US? - CORRECT ANSWER - cancer
treatments
What are the two types of lymphedemas? - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary: congenital
hereditary
Secondary: non-congenital hereditary
At what ABI is compression therapy not appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER - <0.5
0.5-0.8 reduced compression
>0.8 ok for compression
What are the 4 types of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - Capillaries:
permeable, absorb large molecules, NO VALVES
Precollectors: transitional vessel, contains inconsistent smooth muscle and valves
Collectors: TRANSPORTATION, three layers tunica intima, media, and externa
Trunks and Ducts: largest, trunks collect from organs and ducts empty in venous system
What are the advantages of short stretch bandaging? - CORRECT ANSWER - Short
stretch has low resting pressure and high working pressure. High stretch has high resting
pressure and low working pressure (allows for refill)
What are the contraindications to bandaging? - CORRECT ANSWER - acute infections,
cardiac edema, arterial disease, and malignant lymphedema
, What are the contraindications for MLD? - CORRECT ANSWER - General: acute
infection, cardiac edema, acute DVT, renal dysfunction, malignant disease.
Neck: all general plus cardiac arrhythmias, pt above age of 60, hyperthyroidism, and
hypersensitive carotid sinus
Abdominal: general plus pregnancy, recent surgery to area, radiaition fibrosis, R. colitis/cystitis,
after DVT for pelvis, Crohn's, diverticulitis, unexplained pain
What is lymphatic fluid comprised of? - CORRECT ANSWER - protein, water, cellular
components, fat, and long chain fatty acids
What are the distinguishing features of the lymphatic capillary? - CORRECT ANSWER -
larger and more permeable, end blindly in tissue space, terminates in tissue space, does not
contain valves
What is the job of the capillaries? - CORRECT ANSWER - structurally designed to absorb
large molecules and fluid and prevent fluid from leaving
What is the job of the precollectors? - CORRECT ANSWER - transitional vessel that
absorbs lymph into larger transporting vessels
What is the job of the collectors? - CORRECT ANSWER - continuous cell walls with the
main function of transportation
What is the job of the trunks and ducts? - CORRECT ANSWER - large lymphatic vessel
that collect from organs, extremities, and related quadrants
What is believed to protect the deep tissue from developing lymphedema? - CORRECT
ANSWER - subfascia
What are the 2 main lymphatic ducts and their feature? - CORRECT ANSWER - Thoracic
duct: drains 75% of the body; L upper quadrant and both LE, empties into the L venous angle,
penetrates the diaphragm, roughly 2-5 mm diameter and 40 cm long
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the number 1 cause of lymphedema? - CORRECT ANSWER - Filariasis;
mosquito borne parasite found in tropical areas
What is the primary cause of lymphedema in the US? - CORRECT ANSWER - cancer
treatments
What are the two types of lymphedemas? - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary: congenital
hereditary
Secondary: non-congenital hereditary
At what ABI is compression therapy not appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER - <0.5
0.5-0.8 reduced compression
>0.8 ok for compression
What are the 4 types of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - Capillaries:
permeable, absorb large molecules, NO VALVES
Precollectors: transitional vessel, contains inconsistent smooth muscle and valves
Collectors: TRANSPORTATION, three layers tunica intima, media, and externa
Trunks and Ducts: largest, trunks collect from organs and ducts empty in venous system
What are the advantages of short stretch bandaging? - CORRECT ANSWER - Short
stretch has low resting pressure and high working pressure. High stretch has high resting
pressure and low working pressure (allows for refill)
What are the contraindications to bandaging? - CORRECT ANSWER - acute infections,
cardiac edema, arterial disease, and malignant lymphedema
, What are the contraindications for MLD? - CORRECT ANSWER - General: acute
infection, cardiac edema, acute DVT, renal dysfunction, malignant disease.
Neck: all general plus cardiac arrhythmias, pt above age of 60, hyperthyroidism, and
hypersensitive carotid sinus
Abdominal: general plus pregnancy, recent surgery to area, radiaition fibrosis, R. colitis/cystitis,
after DVT for pelvis, Crohn's, diverticulitis, unexplained pain
What is lymphatic fluid comprised of? - CORRECT ANSWER - protein, water, cellular
components, fat, and long chain fatty acids
What are the distinguishing features of the lymphatic capillary? - CORRECT ANSWER -
larger and more permeable, end blindly in tissue space, terminates in tissue space, does not
contain valves
What is the job of the capillaries? - CORRECT ANSWER - structurally designed to absorb
large molecules and fluid and prevent fluid from leaving
What is the job of the precollectors? - CORRECT ANSWER - transitional vessel that
absorbs lymph into larger transporting vessels
What is the job of the collectors? - CORRECT ANSWER - continuous cell walls with the
main function of transportation
What is the job of the trunks and ducts? - CORRECT ANSWER - large lymphatic vessel
that collect from organs, extremities, and related quadrants
What is believed to protect the deep tissue from developing lymphedema? - CORRECT
ANSWER - subfascia
What are the 2 main lymphatic ducts and their feature? - CORRECT ANSWER - Thoracic
duct: drains 75% of the body; L upper quadrant and both LE, empties into the L venous angle,
penetrates the diaphragm, roughly 2-5 mm diameter and 40 cm long
