[Current status of therapy of lymphedema in Austrian hospitals--a comprehensive Austrian survey]

The overall Austrian survey of the Austrian Lymph-Liga on the acutal state of the diagnosis and therapy of the hospitals of Austria is represented by making enquiries in 178 hospitals. The response was moderate at 34%, with only 46 hospitals offering a therapy of lymphedemas (approximately 26%). The type of therapy does not seem standardized at the Austrian hospitals. This explains a high number of multiple entries. The conservative therapy recognized internationally today, or rather, the complex-2-stage-decongestive physiotherapy (CDP), is only mentioned in 24% (including multiple entries). The time required per patient per day, the cyclical weekly reception and the total time of the decongestive therapy are very varied compared to the standards recommended today. Personal qualification of the lymph-therapists is given by physiotherapists in the majority. The specialist competence is very different, but it is identified as competent in the majority through specialists of the internal and of physical medicine. Most of the cost of medical care is covered by Compulsory Insurance. The medical care is limited in every second case (it could not be clarified whether there are organisational reasons, staff-related reasons, or financial reasons). Supplementary data of a "Quality of life" survey among lymphedema patients underline the necessity of a concept for standards, diagnosis and therapy. More than half of the patients asked (65%) complained about a time period of 5 to 10 years from the beginning of the illness till the beginning of a definitive therapy. Every other patient does not feel optimally treated and is under an increased pressure of suffering.