Hi Barb,

Thank you for your question. We sought the opinion of a certified lymphedema therapist to help answer your question. She suggested not using a compression bandage system or garment concomitantly with sequential compression devices (lymphedema pump). If the patient wears/keeps a compression bandage system/garment while using a lymphedema pump, then the interface pressure (pressure between the compression device and the skin of the patient) will be distorted and significantly different from the pressure that the lymphedema pump manufacturer intends to deliver with the device. Also, lymphedema pump manufacturers usually instruct patients to avoid wearing anything that could hinder the lymph flow during treatment, such as clothing with elastic bands, compression bandaging, stockings, etc.[1]

Of note, clinical trials assessing lymphedema pumps and other reviews on the matter describe that compression bandages are used after intermittent sequential compression therapy with lymphedema pumps, and not together.[2,3]

As a side note, the American Venous Forum, American Vein and Lymphatic Society and the Society for Vascular Medicine expert opinion consensus on lymphedema mentions that data demonstrate that APCDs (advanced pneumatic compression devices with calibrated gradient pressure) were superior to simpler devices (without calibrated gradient pressure).[4]

Hope this helps!

References
[1] https://youtu.be/u74qgKHmJF8?t=51
[2] https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/twc/pneumatic-compression-pump-therapy-an-evidence-based-approach-treatment-chronic-vascular-disorders
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26711859/
[4] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02683555211053532