Edema of advanced cancer: prevalence, etiology and conservative management – a single hospice cross sectional study

Edema (accumulation of vascular pericapillary fluids) in patients at the end of life is a common distressing symptom seldom recognized in literature. The reported prevalence of edema reaches 11% of palliative care population.1 It may have multifactorial etiology – a combination of lymphatic congestion (lymphedema), increased capillary hydrostatic pressure (vascular edema), decreased plasma oncotic pressure (hypoproteinemic edema) and/or increased capillary permeability (permeability edema).2 In advanced cancer, recent retrospective chart review of 63 patients referred to palliative care edema service revealed that the most frequent issue was lower limb edema of mixed etiology, due to suspected blockage of lymphatics and/or patient's immobility.

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