VERONESI DAYS ON LYMPHEDEMA – first edition

On April 15, 2023, the First edition of the ‘Veronese Days on Lymphedema’ was held in Ospedaletto di Pescantina (in the middle of Valpolicella in the province of Verona), at the beautiful conference facility ‘Villa Quaranta’, organized by physiotherapist Clear Pigozzi and Physiatrist Emy Brunello.
The proceedings, after welcome greetings from the organizers, began with a presentation by the writer on ‘Primary and Secondary Lymphedema, Lipedema: the diagnostic and care pathways’. The report highlighted the current status of the care of the patient with lymphedema and with Lipedema on the national territory, highlighting well the strengths and weaknesses that still, in many regional realities, do not allow, both qualitatively and numerically, adequate care for the many patients suffering from these pathologies.

This was followed by Dr. Silvia Fontana, from Asiago, who illustrated (also showing complex clinical cases) what is the role of lymphofluoroscopy as a support in the diagnosis and therapeutic direction in patients with primary or secondary lymphedema.
Dr. Florio, from Verona, then recalled the incidence of lymphedema secondary to oncologic pathology, emphasizing what are the current protocols (early diagnosis and equally early and complete treatment ) that are less and less aggressive and more and more conservative, thanks to which it is hoped, in the near future, a reduction in the incidence of the secondary forms themselves can be achieved.

Dr. Brunello then described, together with Dr. Pigozzi, the cornerstones of physical decongestive treatment, which cannot disregard an adequate ‘personalization’ of the treatments themselves according to the type of patient and the clinical stage of the pathology. The results, which are the result of a special professional commitment and the consolidated experience of the operators, can determine a stable improvement in the quality of life in patients belonging to any age group, even with the adequate support of family members relatively to the developmental and senile age.
This was followed by Dr. Silvia Medri, a dermatologist from Verona, who emphasized the importance of skin care as prevention of complications in primary and secondary lymphedema, which are particularly incident in predisposed individuals, regardless of the nature of the lymphedema itself.

                            

Dr. Paola Del Bravo, infectivologist, then reminded how important it is not only to have a timely therapeutic approach in the inflammatory complication of lymphedema, which does not necessarily have to be antibiotic in nature (considering, moreover, the marked antibiotic resistance that is becoming increasingly evident, linked to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics themselves), but also targeted and, above all ‘measured’. In relapsing forms, however, the use of slow-dissolving antibiotic therapies (delayed penicillin) to be performed for at least one year is suggested.
It was then the turn of Alessandra Misso, dietitian, who very analytically described the advantages of personalized diets both in patients with lymphedema and, and especially in those with Lipedema, not neglecting to emphasize the importance of daily exercise and compliance with hygienic and behavioral norms.

                      

Dr. Valdaro Alessandra, a psychotherapist, then recalled the importance of accompanying the patient with Lymphedema, in need of due care according to the psychological and behavioral implications that a chronic pathology, such as this one, moreover with more or less important physiognomic alterations, can engender, further reducing the patient’s already difficult compliance. The care approach, responding also to questions from those present (physicians of various specialties and physiotherapists specifically interested in this type of rehabilitation branch) must be ‘discreet’ and possibly requested, through indirect solicitations from the family and health professionals, by the patient himself.

                     

Appointment, therefore, to next year: this is what spontaneously thought each of those present in view of the title of the Event that suggests an ‘institutionalization’ of the initiative that was successful and appreciated by the many health workers present in this first initiative organized, moreover, ‘with a limited number’ so that part of the aspiring participants could not take part.