Abnormal findings are charted as a chain — finding, severity, comparison to baseline, the risk it creates, and the skilled action taken.
Red streaking, warmth, and tenderness with fever from a limb or a break in the skin — concerning for lymphangitis or cellulitis (route to Integumentary/Peripheral Vascular).
New hard, fixed, matted, or supraclavicular nodes — concerning for malignancy.
A rapidly worsening lymphedema with systemic signs — an urgent progression.
A post-operative limb infection — erythema, warmth, and drainage in an at-risk limb.
New unilateral limb swelling that could be a deep vein thrombosis rather than lymphedema — requiring the venous assessment (route to Peripheral Vascular).
Compression-related complications — skin breakdown, constriction, or worsening swelling from an ill-fitting garment.
A new, enlarging, or persistent node in the setting of known cancer — warranting evaluation.
A significant increase in limb girth from baseline — indicating lymphedema progression requiring plan revision.
