[Technique investigation of endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection by liposuction].
OBJECTIVE
To study the technique of endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection by liposuction.


METHODS
Endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection (E-ALND) after liposuction (group A) were performed on 45 patients with breast cancer from Dec. 2004 to Oct. 2005. It was compared with traditional ALND (group B).


RESULTS
The average operation time of E-ALND was 108 min (60 - 190 min), it was longer than that in group B (P < 0.05). The total blood loss in group A was 152.82 ml (80 - 220 ml), it was less than that in group B significantly (P < 0.01). In group A, the mean lymph nodes harvested by endoscopy were 18 (8 - 34), the total postoperative lymph flow was 140.38 ml (60 - 180 ml), the duration of drainage was 6.91 d (6 - 15 d). The postoperation complication included axillary seromas 7 cases, epidermic blister 5 cases, operation area phlegmon 2 cases were found in group A. There was no significant difference between two groups in the total postoperative lymph flow, the duration of drainage and the number of dissected lymph nodes and postoperation complication. The incision of chest wall was smaller in group A, and patients by this surgery were satisfied with the cosmetic results.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection by liposuction could match the traditional lymphadenectomy. The technique should be further standardized.
Guo
Mei-qin
MQ
Breast Disease Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Jiang
Jun
J
Yang
Xin-hua
XH
Fan
Lin-jun
LJ
He
Qing-qing
QQ
Zhang
Yi
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome