Chronic oedema is a common problem faced in primary care and community nurses are ideally placed to identify and manage uncomplicated cases. Lymphoedema and chronic lower limb oedema are conventionally treated with multi-layer bandaging followed by compression hosiery, however new innovations are becoming available to help manage this complex condition. This article outlines the basic management of chronic oedema and discusses treatments that are available in specialist lymphoedema clinics such as FarrowWrap™. A case study of the use of FarrowWrap™ is provided to illustrate how effective intensive treatments can be.

During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, lymphoedema and community clinicians have had to modify how they implement intensive treatments for patients with lymphoedema and chronic oedema. Using novel approaches to treat and move patients towards self-management regimes has enabled patients to be in control of their condition, particularly if they are unable to attend normal clinic appointments. This article explores how using Haddenham easywrap instead of time- and resource-intensive bandaging regimes, alongside the Haddenham LymphFlow Advance, as part of self-management programmes, can benefit patients' quality of life, reduce costs and resource use and enable patients to self-manage this long-term chronic condition more effectively.

Haddenham Easywrap has been available since 2016 and since then case studies have been presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the product in clinical practice. The aim of the article is to demonstrate how its use in chronic oedema, and wound care is beneficial and cost effective and how versatile one product can be in treating both of these conditions. Information gained from the evaluation of easywrap in wound care and management of chronic oedema, demonstrates that easywrap can be a suitable cost effective alternative to traditional compression therapy modalities, while improving concordance and quality of life.

Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment in venous and lymphatic diseases. Optimisation of compression therapy is not a new concept, but, in the UK, the use of 24-hour compression therapy as part of the maintenance phase of treatment has not been standard practice and, until recently, has only been adopted by certain specialist centres. One such modality in the process of optimisation is the use of products that are classed as ‘reduced compression’ or ‘night-time garments’. These are not traditional flat- or circular-knit garments but are made of various components to include foam and, more recently, knitted cotton fabrics. Haddenham Comfiwave is a new product that has recently been brought to market and does not feature in the literature reviewed. Although a new unique product in its own right, it has been demonstrated to fit within the common groups of products discussed.

Over recent years, compression wraps, also known as adjustable compression wrapping devices (ACWDs), have become an increasingly important part of lymphoedema management. Widely used in lymphoedema clinics, they are also now a popular treatment choice within tissue viability, as well as in practice and community nursing, where their cost- and resource-saving advantages are greatly appreciated. Easywrap from Haddenham Healthcare is a popular choice among both health professionals and patients, due to its low profile, making it a comfortable option for wearing beneath normal clothes, and its uncomplicated design, making it easy for patients to put on and take off themselves. This article will evaluate the advantages of using Easywrap for self-management and explore why the Fusion liner, which is now available on drug tariff, can further improve self-care in lymphoedema management.