Terapia descongestiva como complemento a la cirugía de anastomosis linfáticovenosas y transferencia de linfonodos vascularizados: Una revisión de la literatura / Decongestive therapy as an adjunct to lymphatic-venous anastomosis surgery and vascularized lymph node transfer: A review of the literature

Resumen Introducción: El linfedema es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica que afecta cerca de 250 millones de personas en el mundo. El tratamiento tradicional es la terapia descongestiva. Últimamente, existe la opción de complementar el tratamiento tradicional con procedimientos quirúrgicos fisiológicos como anastomosis linfáticovenosas y transferencia de linfonodos vascularizados. Sin embargo, la evidencia del uso de la terapia descongestiva en los cuidados pre y posoperatorios en estas cirugías es limitada. Objetivo: Evaluar el uso de terapia descongestiva como complemento a la cirugía de linfedema mediante anastomosis linfáticovenosas y transferencia de linfonodos vascularizados. Materiales y Método: Se realizó una revisión de la literatura en las siguientes bases de datos: Cochrane, Pubmed y Google académico, utilizando los siguientes términos mesh: "anastomosis, surgical", "lymphedema", "perioperative care", "microsurgery", "rehabilitation", "therapy", "lymph nodes", "bypass", "lymphedema and microsurgery". Se incluyó aquellos artículos que describían el uso de la terapia descongestiva en los cuidados pre- y posoperatorios. Resultados: Se identificó un total de 201 artículos y 12 fueron incluidos en el análisis. La evidencia reporta que las terapias más usadas en el cuidado pre- y posoperatorio son compresión, drenaje linfático manual y tratamientos personalizados. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los autores hace una descripción vaga de las terapias mencionadas. Discusión y Conclusión: La evidencia respecto al uso de terapia descongestiva como tratamiento complementario es débil. Los expertos recomiendan su uso, sin embargo, se necesitan futuras investigaciones que describan el uso de cada uno de sus componentes como complemento de procedimientos quirúrgicos fisiológicos para el manejo del linfedema.

Background: Lymphedema is a disease that affects about 250 million people around the world. The traditional treatment is decongestive therapy. In the past years, there is the option to complementing the traditional treatment with physiological surgical procedures such as lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) and vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT). However, the evidence for the use of decongestive therapy in pre- and post-operative care in these surgeries is limited. Aim: To evaluate the use of decongestive therapy as a complement to lymphedema surgery such a lymphatic-venous anastomosis and transfer of vascularized lymph nodes. Materials and Method: A literature review was carried out in the following databases: Cochrane, Pubmed and Academic Google, using the following mesh terms: "anastomosis, surgical", "lymphedema", "perioperative care", "microsurgery", "rehabilitation", "therapy", "lymph nodes","bypass", "lymphedema and microsurgery". "Those articles that described the use of decongestive therapy in pre- and post-operative care were included. Results: 201 articles were identified and 12 were included in the analysis. The evidence reports that the most used therapies in pre- and post-operative care are compression, manual lymphatic drainage and personalized treatments. However, most of the authors give a vague description of the mentioned therapies. Discussion and Conclusion: The evidence regarding the use of decongestive therapy as a complementary treatment is weak. Experts recommend its use; however, future research is needed to describe the use of each of its components as a complement to physiological surgical procedures for the management of lymphedema.

Orbital lymphatic vessels: immunohistochemical detection in the lacrimal gland, optic nerve, fat tissue, and extrinsic oculomotor muscles / Vasos linfáticos orbitários: identificação imunohistoquímica na glândula lacrimal, no nervo óptico, no tecido adiposo e nos músculos extrínsecos oculomotores

ABSTRACT Purpose: To identify the lymphatic vessels in orbital specimens from human cadavers using light microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis. Methods: A postmortem study included 10 orbital specimens from 10 human cadavers. The orbital specimens were obtained no later than 12 hours after death. The orbital specimens were dissected into lacrimal gland, optic nerve, fat tissue, and oculomotor muscles. The histologic criteria to qualify as a lymphatic vessel were thin-walled channels of endothelium without a well-developed basal membrane and with an erythrocyte-free, irregular lumen. The immunohistochemical criteria were irregularly shaped, thin-walled vessels with an erythrocyte-free, irregular lumen and immunopositivity for podoplanin D2-40. Results: The lacrimal gland, optic nerve, fat tissue, and extraocular muscle sections were positively stained with podoplanin D2-40. Conclusions: This study demonstrated lymphatic vessels in the human orbit, more precisely, in the lacrimal gland, dura mater of the optic nerve, adipose tissue, and extrinsic oculomotor muscles via light microscopy and immunohistochemistry.(AU)

RESUMO Objetivos: Identificar vasos linfáticos em espécimes orbitários de cadáveres humanos através de microscopia óptica e análise imunohistoquímica. Métodos: Um estudo postmortem incluiu dez espécimes orbitários provenientes de dez cadáveres humanos. Todos os espécimes orbitários foram obtidos até 12 horas após a morte com uma técnica cirúrgica de exenteração orbitária e dissecados em glândula lacrimal, nervo óptico, gordura órbitária e músculos extraoculares. Para classificar como um vaso linfático, os critérios histológicos incluíram vasos endoteliais de parede única sem membrana basal bem desenvolvida, irregulares e lúmen sem hemácias, e os critérios imunohistoquímicos incluíram vasos endoteliais de parede única, com formato irregular e lúmen sem hemácias e reagentes a podoplanina D2-40. Resultados: As lâminas histológicas de glândula lacrimal, nervo óptico, tecido adiposo e músculos extraoculares reagiram positivamente a podoplanina D2-40. Conclusão: Este estudo demonstrou vasos linfáticos na órbita humana, mais exatamente, na glândula lacrimal, no nervo óptico, na gordura orbitária e nos músculos extrínsecos extraoculares via microscopia óptica e imunohistoquímica.(AU)

Primary Lymphedema of the Lower Limb: The Clinical Utility of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/CT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether the additional use of the single photon emission computed tomography/CT (SPECT/CT) technique improves the diagnostic value of planar lymphoscintigraphy in patients presenting with primary lymph edema of the lower limb. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For a defined period of three years (April 2011-April 2014) a total of 34 consecutive patients (28 females; age range, 27-83 years) presenting with swelling of the leg(s) suspicious of (uni- or bilateral, proximal or distal) primary lymphedema were prospectively examined by planar lymphoscintigraphy (lower limbs, n = 67) and the tomographic SPECT/CT technique (anatomical sides, n = 65). RESULTS: In comparison to pathological planar scintigraphic findings, the addition of SPECT/CT provided relevant additional information regarding the presence of dermal backflow (86%), the anatomical extent of lymphatic disorders (64%), the presence or absence of lymph nodes (46%), and the visualization of lymph vessels (4%). CONCLUSION: As an adjunct to planar lymphoscintigraphy, SPECT/CT specifies the anatomical correlation of lymphatic disorders and thus improves assessment of the extent of pathology due to the particular advantages of tomographic separation of overlapping sources. The interpretation of scintigraphic data benefits not only in baseline diagnosis, but also in physiotherapeutical and microsurgical treatments of primary lymphedema.