[Edema of the lower extremities in the aged patient]

Oedema of the lower limbs in the elderly patient are sometimes easy to diagnose in cases of cardiac, renal or hepatic incompetence. But oedema can also be of venous origin: superficial (varicose) incompetence, or deep, with thrombosis (recent or previous] or compression. Certain oedema are of arterial origin when there is pain in the supine position, or after revascularization. Lymphostatic oedema are rarely primary, and most often indicate a pelvic tumour which has escaped diagnosis or has relapsed, sometimes following surgical or ionising treatment. A compressive treatment must take into account the arterial condition of the patient as well as any motor handicaps.