A novel two-stage surgical approach to treat chronic lymphedema.

Surgical treatment of chronic lymphedema has seen significant advances. Suction-assisted protein lipectomy (SAPL) has been shown to safely and effectively reduce the solid component of swelling in chronic lymphedema. However, these patients must continuously use compression garments to control and prevent recurrence. Microsurgery procedures, including lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) and vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT), have been shown to be effective in the management of the fluid component of lymphedema and allow for decreased garment use. SAPL and VLNT were applied together in a two-stage approach in two patients with chronic lymphedema after treatment for breast cancer. SAPL was used first to remove the chronic, solid component of the soft-tissue excess. Volume excess in our patients' arms was reduced an average of approximately 83% and 110% after SAPL surgery. After the arms had sufficiently healed and the volume reductions had stabilized, VLNT was performed to reduce the need for continuous compression and reduce fluid re-accumulation. Following the VLNT procedures, the patients were able to remove their compression garments consistently during the day and still maintain their volume reductions. Neither patient had any postoperative episodes of cellulitis. SAPL and VLNT can be combined to achieve optimal outcomes in patients with chronic lymphedema.

Review of current surgical treatments for lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: The current mainstay of lymphedema therapy has been conservative nonsurgical treatment. However, surgical options for lymphedema have been reported for over a century. Early surgical procedures were often invasive and disfiguring, and they often had only limited long-term success. In contrast, contemporary surgical techniques are much less invasive and have been shown to be effective in reducing excess limb volume, the risk of cellulitis, and the need for compression garment use and lymphedema therapy. Microsurgical procedures such as lymphaticovenous anastomosis and vascularized lymph node transfer lymphaticolymphatic bypass can treat the excess fluid component of lymphedema swelling that presents as pitting edema. Suction-assisted protein lipectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that addresses the solid component of lymphedema swelling that typically occurs later in the disease process and presents as chronic nonpitting lymphedema. These surgical techniques are becoming increasingly popular and their success continues to be documented in the medical literature. We review the efficacy and limitations of these contemporary surgical procedures for lymphedema. METHODS: A Medline literature review was performed of lymphedema surgery, vascularized lymph node transfer, lymphaticovenous anastomosis, lymphatic liposuction, and lymphaticolymphatic bypass with particular emphasis on developments within the past 10 years. A literature review of technique, indications, and outcomes of the surgical treatments for lymphedema was undertaken. RESULTS: Surgical treatments have evolved to become less invasive and more effective. CONCLUSIONS: With proper diagnosis and the appropriate selection of procedure, surgical techniques can be used to treat lymphedema safely and effectively in many patients when combined with integrated lymphedema therapy.

An effective system of surgical treatment of lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: Effective surgical treatments for lymphedema now can address the fluid and solid phases of the disease process. Microsurgical procedures, including lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) and vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT), target the fluid component that predominates at earlier stages of the disease. Suction-assisted protein lipectomy (SAPL) addresses the solid component that typically presents later as chronic, nonpitting lymphedema of an extremity. We assess the outcomes of patients who underwent selective application of these three surgical procedures as part of an effective system to treat lymphedema. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of patients with lymphedema who underwent complete decongestive therapy followed by surgical treatment with SAPL, LVA, or VLNT. The primary outcomes measured were postoperative volume reduction (SAPL), daily requirement for compression garments and lymphedema therapy (VLNT and LVA), and the incidence of severe cellulitis. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included in the study, of which 10 underwent SAPL and 16 underwent LVA or VLNT. The average reduction of excess volume by SAPL was 3,212 mL in legs and 943 mL in arms, or a volume reduction of 87 and 111 %, respectively, when compared with the unaffected, opposite sides. Microsurgical procedures (VLNT and LVA) significantly reduced the need for both compression garment use (p = 0.003) and lymphedema therapy (p < 0.0001). The overall rate of cellulitis decreased from 58 % before surgery to 15 % after surgery (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: When applied appropriately to properly selected patients, surgical procedures used in the treatment of lymphedema are effective and safe.