Monitoring the post-operative lymphedema in prefabricated flap after resurfacing for facial scar / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Currently, the prefabricated flap is used for reconstructing the post-burn scar in head and face.The aim is to analyze the nature of the post-op edema in the prefabricated flaps, to determine whether it is lymphedema, and to study the prognosis of the edema.Methods From January, 2011 to March, 2015, 18 cases of post-operation edema in superficial temporal fascia prefabricated flaps were studied and each case was followed for 5 months.We used ultrasound and indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent imaging to study the nature of the edema.Apart from that, we monitored the recovery process of the post-operation edema by a) measuring the horizontal diameter of the flap by a tape, b) measuring the thickness of the flap by the ultrasound, c) monitoring the condition of edema by ICG and d) monitoring the reconstruction and recanalization of the lymphatic system by ICG.Results Pitting edema always occurred in the prefabricated flap from the first day after operation.These patients were diagnosed as mild lymphedema (7 cases), moderate lymphedema (10 cases), and severe lymphedema (1cases) by ultrasound and ICG florescent imaging.The degree of flap lymphedema improved gradually and it improved significantly from 3 days to 6 days post-op eration.The condition of flap lymphedema became stable from the 12 days post-operation.The fluorescence image of ICG showed that the stage of flap lymphedema improved from 3 weeks post-operation and the transportation capability of lymphatic vessels increased most from the 3 days to 6 days post-op eration.We also found lymphatic vessels reconnected from the 6 days post-operation and lymphatic system reconstructed following the direction to lymph nodes.We could discover the collecting lymphatic vessels from 2 months post-operation and the lymphatic system in prefabricated flap matured from 5 months post-operation.Conclusion The post-operation edema in the prefabricated flaps is lymphedema, the incidence rate of which is high.The lymphatic drainage system recovers in 6 days after the operation.It is reconstructed along the lymph nodes.The edema disappears in 2-3 weeks post-operation, the reconstructed the lymph system matures in 5 months.