Lower-extremity edema is a common manifestation of congestive heart failure (CHF). Leg elevation may help reduce edema by promoting venous return and limiting fluid accumulation in the lower limbs. This descriptive case study examined changes in edema among two patients with CHF who received a leg-elevation intervention. Each patient’s legs were elevated to 30° once daily for three consecutive days, with each session lasting 20 minutes. Edema severity and limb circumference were assessed using an observation sheet and measuring instruments. The first patient’s edema decreased from grade III to grade II in both legs, with mean circumference reductions of 0.66 cm in the right leg and 0.75 cm in the left. The second patient’s edema decreased from grade III to grade II in the right leg and grade I in the left, with mean circumference reductions of 0.79 cm and 1.03 cm, respectively. These findings indicate that leg elevation may be a useful complementary nursing intervention for patients with CHF and lower-extremity edema. However, because this case study involved only two patients and did not include a comparison group, the observed changes should be interpreted cautiously and cannot establish the intervention’s effectiveness.
Keywords
congestive heart failure, lower-extremity edema, leg elevation, nursing intervention, case study