Quantifying radiation in the axillary bed at the site of lymphedema surgical prevention.

PURPOSE: Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is a procedure known to reduce the risk of lymphedema in patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). However, patients who receive adjuvant radiotherapy are at increased risk of lymphedema. The aim of this study was to quantify the extent of radiation at the site of surgical prevention. METHODS: We recently began deploying clips at the site of ILR to identify the site during radiation planning. A retrospective review was performed to identify breast cancer patients who underwent ILR with clip deployment and adjuvant radiation therapy from October 2020 to April 2022. Patients were excluded if they had not completed radiotherapy. The exposure and dose of radiation received by the site was determined and recorded. RESULTS: In a cohort of 11 patients, the site fell within the radiation field in 7 patients (64%) and received a median dose of 4280 cGy. Among these 7 patients, 3 had sites located within tissue considered at risk of oncologic recurrence and the remaining 4 sites received radiation from a tangential field treating the breast or chest wall. The median dose to the ILR site for the 4 patients whose sites were outside the radiation fields was 233 cGy. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that even when the site of surgical prevention was not within the targeted radiation field during treatment planning, it remains susceptible to radiation. Strategies for limiting radiation at this site are needed.

Lymphatic Function of the Lower Limb after Groin Dissection for Vulvar Cancer and Reconstruction with Lymphatic SCIP Flap.

Inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy, frequently performed for vulvar cancer, is burdened with substantial immediate and long-term morbidity. One of the most disabling treatment-related sequelae is lower limb lymphedema (LLL). The present study aims to describe the wound complications and the severity of LLL in patients who have undergone groin dissection for vulvar cancer and immediate inguinal reconstruction with the Lymphatic Superficial Circumflex Iliac Perforator flap (L-SCIP). We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients who underwent bilateral groin dissection and unilateral inguinal reconstruction with the L-SCIP. The presence and severity of postoperative LLL during the follow-up period were assessed by lymphoscintigraphy and limbs' volume measurement. In addition, immediate complications at the level of the inguinal area were registered. The changes between preoperative and postoperative limb volumes were analyzed by Student's t test. p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Thirty-one patients were included. The mean variation of volume was 479 ± 330 cc3 in the side where groin reconstruction had been performed, and 683 ± 425 cc3 in the contralateral side, showing smaller variation in the treated side (p = 0.022). Lymphoscintigraphy confirmed the clinical findings. Based on our results, inguinal reconstruction with L-SCIP performed at the same time of groin dissection in patients treated for vulvar cancer can provide a significant protective effect on LLL.

Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventive Healing Approach (LYMPHA) for Lymphedema Prevention after Axillary Lymph Node Dissection-A Single Institution Experience and Feasibility of Technique.

While surgical options exist to treat lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), the lymphatic microsurgical preventive healing approach (LYMPHA) has been introduced as a preventive measure performed during the primary surgery, thus avoiding the morbidity associated with lymphedema. Here, we highlight details of our operative technique and review postoperative outcomes. For our patients, limb measurements and body composition analyses were performed pre- and postoperatively. Intraoperatively, axillary reverse lymphatic mapping was performed with indocyanine green (ICG) and lymphazurin. SPY-PHI imaging was used to visualize the ICG uptake into axillary lymphatics. Cut lymphatics from excised nodes were preserved for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA). At the completion of the microanastomosis, ICG was visualized draining from the lymphatic through the recipient vein. A retrospective review identified nineteen patients who underwent complete or partial mastectomy with ALND and subsequent LYMPHA over 19 months. The number of LVAs performed per patient ranged between 1-4 per axilla. The operating time ranged from 32-95 min. There were no surgical complications, and thus far one patient developed mild lymphedema with an average follow up of 10 months. At the clinic follow up, ICG and SPY angiography were used to confirm intact lymphatic conduits with an uptake of ICG across the axilla. This study supports LYMPHA as a feasible and effective method for lymphedema prevention.

Sistema de selección de sistemas elastocompresivos en personas con cáncer de mama de un hospital con recursos limitados / Selection system for elastocompressive systems in people with breast cancer from a hospital with limited resources

El cáncer de mama es un problema de salud pública en Chile. El linfedema es un trastorno linfovascular secundario a la extirpación de los ganglios linfáticos por cirugía en el cáncer de mama, que produce un aumento del volumen y la fibrosis en el miembro superior. Diferentes prendas de compresión son usadas para la prevención y el tratamiento del linfedema. Por eso, el programa de Garantías Ex-plícitas en Salud garantiza la entrega de sistemas elastocompresivos a las personas con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama para prevenir y tratar el linfedema. Sin embargo, en hospitales públicos los sistemas elastocompresivos pueden ser recursos limitados, por eso, muchas veces se deben priorizar. Este artículo tiene por objetivo describir un sistema de selección de sistemas elastocompresivos en personas con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama en el modelo de atención kinesiológico temprano y prospectivo.

Breast cancer is a public health problem in Chile. Lymphedema is a lymphovascular disorder secondary to the removal of lymph nodes by surgery in breast cancer, resulting in increased volume and fibrosis in the upper limb. Different compression garments are used for the prevention and treatment of lymphedema. Therefore, the "Garantías Explícitas en Salud" program guarantees the delivery of compression garments to people diagnosed with breast cancer to prevent and treat lymphedema. However, in public hospitals, the compression garments can be limited resources, so they often need to be prioritized. This article aims to describe the selection system for compression garments in people diagnosed with breast cancer in the early and prospective physical therapy care model.

Evaluation of Lymphedema Prevention Protocol on Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients with Mastectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphedema is a widespread complication after surgery or radiation therapy due to the damage and obstruction of the lymphatic vessels. A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of lymphedema prevention protocol on quality of life among breast cancer patients with mastectomy at a selected hospital in Tamil Nadu. Objectives of the study were to identify the effect of lymphedema prevention protocol on lymphedema occurrence and quality of life. METHODS: A quantitative research approach of quasi experimental non-equivalent with control group before -after design (Non randomized) was used. The investigator had included 120 participants by using purposive sampling technique which included 60 each in study and comparison group. Pre test was done before the intervention of lymphedema prevention protocol to both comparison and study group participants. Lymphedema prevention protocol was implemented for study group whereas comparison group received routine care. Post tests 1, 2, 3, and 4 were done by using the structured questionnaire at 10th day, 30th, 60th and 90th post operative day respectively. Subjects' responses were coded and statistically analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The comparison of quality of life between study and comparison group over a period of time were statistically significant at p< 0.001 whereas lymphedema occurrence was significant at p< 0.01. CONCLUSION: The early execution of preventive measures of lymphedema prevents the lymphedema occurrence and promotes the quality of life among patients undergone mastectomy.

Estudo-piloto no tratamento do linfedema de membros inferiores com meia de gorgurão / Pilot study on the treatment of lower limb lymphedema using grosgrain socks

Objetivo: o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a redução do linfedema em membros inferiores utilizando meia de gorgurão (não elástica) como forma isolada de tratamento. Método: foram avaliados em ensaios clínicos prospectivos 13 pacientes consecutivos com linfedema em membros inferiores tratados com meia de gorgurão e avaliados pela volumetria na Clínica Godoy em 2012. Foram cinco do sexo masculino e oito do sexo feminino, com idades variando entre 26 e 72 anos, com média de 49,0anos. O critério de inclusão foi ter linfedema grau II em membros inferiores, independentemente da causa; houve também a exclusão de pacientes com histórico de alergias e intolerância a mecanismos de contenção, processos infecciosos ativos, imobilidade articular e outras causas que pudessem interferir nos edemas em geral. O tratamento realizado foi a meia de gorgurão, que é inelástica, confeccionada sob medida, em queo fechamento é feito com ilhós e permite ajustamento pelo próprio paciente. Foi feita volumetria - técnica de mensura por deslocamento de água - no início e em todos os retornos. Para análise estatística foi utilizado o teste-t pareado, sendo considerado erro alfa de 5%. Resultado: o estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Detectou-se redução significativa nos pacientes tratados, teste t pareado bicaudal com p.

Objective: the objective of this study was to evaluate lymphedema reduction in lower limbs using grosgrain socks (inelastic) as an isolated form of treatment. Method: 13 consecutive patients with lymphedema in the lower limbs treated with grosgrain socks were evaluated in prospective clinical assays for volumetry in the Godoy Clinic in 2012. There were five male and eight female patients, with ages ranging between 26 and 72 years and average of 49.0 years. The inclusion criterion was presenting grade II lymphedema in the lower limbs regardless of the cause; patients with a history of allergies and intolerance to containment mechanisms, infectious processes, joint immobility, and other causes that could interfere with the edema were excluded. The treatment used grosgrain socks, which are inelastic, custom made and closed through eyelets that allow adjustment by the patient. The volumetric technique was used to measure water-offset at the start and all follow-ups. The paired t-test was used for the statistical analysis considering a 5% alpha error. Results: the study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. A significant reduction was detected in treated patients, two-tailed paired t-test with p.