‘Seamlessly’ Integrating Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Into Clinical Workflows

Integrating a bioimpedance system into clinical workflow has been seamless, according to Kandance P. McGuire, MD, FACS.

The system measures patients at baseline for fluid levels prior to surgery, and then after surgery, repeated follow-up is conducted during the time during which lymphedema might present. Having this continued follow-up will allow clinicians to catch changes in fluid levels earlier than when symptoms may even occur.

McGuire, interim senior vice president of the Cancer Service Line and chief of breast surgery at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, spoke with CancerNetwork® about how patients are measured for lymphedema during their intake alongside blood pressure and heart rate readings. The results are uploaded to the electronic medical records, where clinicians are alerted if the results are high, and rehabilitation intervention can occur.

Transcript:

It’s a well-established workflow through multiple clinical trials, and any of the companies that create these bioimpedance machines will help you establish that. What we want to do is get a measurement pre-operatively, because everyone’s going to have a different baseline of natural bioimpedance within their body. When a patient first presents to our clinic, we are going to evaluate them, decide what surgery they are going to need, and if it’s lymphatic surgery as part of their treatment, or radiation to the lymphatic [system]. Then, before that treatment, they will get a baseline measurement. They are then measured postoperatively, and then every 3 months for the first 3 years, every 6 months for the next 2 years, and then yearly thereafter. That mimics the rapidity and the likelihood of developing lymphedema. It’s an easy process and can be done through a nursing visit. Despite the fact that it’s more frequent than those first 3 years, patients are not having a medical visit attached to that, and a copay attached to that; it’s just going to be that measurement.

Reference

VCU Massey now offers new technology for early detection of lymphedema. News release. December 8, 2025. Accessed December 23, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/2ktfzf5k