A microsurgical method for reconstruction of interrupted lymphatic pathways: autologous lymph-vessel transplantation for treatment of lymphedemas.
Refinements in microsurgery have made it possible to perform causal therapy on lymphedemas due to a local blockade of lymphatic pathways through transplantation of the patient's lymph collectors. End-to-end anastomoses with lymphatics before and after the blockade or crossing to the opposite side are performed under 40-fold magnification. Between July 1980 and February 1985 32 patients received this treatment. 23 patients had postmastectomy edema, and 9 patients had unilateral edema of the lower limb (2 primary, 7 secondary edemas). The lasting result was that the volume difference between the affected and the healthy limb decreased to about 65%. Lymphatic scintiscans showed improved lymphatic transport capacity with increasing time from surgery and long patency of the grafts.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000637:transplantation*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*