title: Treatment of lymphedema with lymphaticovenular anastomoses.
abstract: Although lymphedema in the extremities is a troublesome adverse effect following radical resection of various cancers, conventional therapies for lymphedema are not always satisfactory, and new breakthroughs are anticipated. With the introduction of supermicrosurgical techniques for the anastomosis of blood or lymphatic vessels less than 0.8 mm in diameter, we have developed a novel method of lymphaticovenular anastomosis for the treatment of primary as well as secondary lymphedema in the extremities. Here, we review the pathophysiological aspects of lymphedema, emphasizing the importance of smooth-muscle cell function in the affected lymphatic walls. We then describe the theoretical basis and detailed operative techniques of our lymphaticovenular anastomoses. Although technically demanding, especially for beginners, we believe that this method will become a new clinical standard for the treatment of lymphedema in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higashino
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gorai
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Misa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koshima
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery