Resources

Share this article

Debilitating chronic veno-lymphoedema: using a muscle pump activator medical device to heal wounds and improve skin integrity

Carol Ann Rabley-Koch, Connie Harris, Dorace Ramage, Renee Cattryse
23 June 2019

This case study describes the experience of adding a muscle pump activator medical device (geko™, Firstkind) to the care of a 66-year-old male with veno-lymphoedema and chronic renal failure, causing lower leg blistering resulting in wounds. He had received daily or twice daily dressing changes with frequent infections for 5 years, with bilateral amputation and hemodialysis predicted as eventual outcomes. Instead, his episodes of blistering with open wounds reduced, along with accelerated healing, a reduction in fibrotic oedema and a return to more normal skin integrity. His mobility and ankle range of motion rapidly increased. Additionally, his renal function improved during the treatment, with a reduction in serum creatinine to the point that hemodialysis was no longer being considered. The improvements in his skin integrity and level of pain, reduction in the incidence and severity of infections, increase in mobility, and activity and general quality of life were remarkable and unprecedented in our experience caring for patients with veno-lymphoedema. 

Free for all healthcare professionals

Sign up to the Wounds Group journals





By clicking ‘Subscribe’, you are agreeing that the Wounds Group are able to email you periodic newsletters. You may unsubscribe from these at any time. Your info is safe with us and we will never sell or trade your details. For information please review our privacy policy.

Are you a healthcare professional? This website is for healthcare professionals only. To continue, please confirm that you are a healthcare professional below.

We use cookies responsibly to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website. Read about how we use cookies.

I am not a healthcare professional.