ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The trauma resulting from liposuction damages the subcutaneous cellular tissue and subsequently the lymphatic structures. In turn, this damage can reduce lymphatic drainage, which may or may not appear clinically as some degree of edema. OBJECTIVE: It is possible to evaluate the function of the lymphatic system using lymphoscintigraphy. We conducted a study to evaluate the lymphatic system using this technique both before and after liposuction of the lower limbs. METHODS: The study included seven women ranging from 18 to 42 years of age, all of whom were diagnosed with lipodystrophy solely in the lateral and medial regions of the upper third of the thighs. This study was conducted in three stages: preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, liposuction, and postoperative lymphoscintigraphy three months postoperatively. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for the statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: A comparison of values for the average time of the radiopharmaceutical acquisition curve and clearance in the areas of lymphoscintigraphic interest both before and three months after liposuction did not reveal significant results. CONCLUSIONS: A comparison of preoperative and postoperative lymphoscintigraphic findings showed no significant damage to the lymphatic system associated with liposuction of the lower limbs.
Subject(s)
Lipectomy/adverse effects , Lipodystrophy/diagnostic imaging , Lower Extremity/diagnostic imaging , Lymphoscintigraphy , Adult , Female , Humans , Lipectomy/methods , Lipodystrophy/etiology , Lower Extremity/anatomy & histology , Lymphatic System/physiology , Postoperative Period , Preoperative Period , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
Para avaliar o efeito da compressäo pneumática intermitente sequencial sobre o transporte do Dextran marcado com tecnécio 99m em pacientes com linfedema de extremidades inferiores estudamos 11 pacientes.Foram oito mulheres e três homens com idade média de 44,6 anos.Foram realizadas duas linfocintilografias: a primeira considerada o controle (sem compresäo); a segunda foi realizada com compressäo pneumática de três horas, iniciada logo após a injeçäo do radioisótopo.Antes do início da compressäo e logo após o término foram feitas medidas em seis locais marcados para verificar a efetividade da compressäo na reduçäo do volume da extremidade.A análise quantitativa foi realizada pelo cálculo do "clearance" do radioisótopo em quatro locais determinados (perna, joelho, coxa e regiäo inguinal) em ambas as linfocintilografias.Observou-se reduçäo significante entre dos diâmetros das extremidades, porém näo foi observada diferença significativa entre os valores do "clearance" sem e com compressäo.Concluímos que a compressäo pneumática intermitente sequencial foi efetiva para reduzier o diâmetro, porém näo alterou o transporte do radioisótopo nas extremidades estudadas, em três horas de compressäo.
