title: Split intravascular stents for side-to-end lymphaticovenular anastomosis.
abstract: Supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is becoming the treatment of choice for compression-refractory lymphedema. Among various types of LVA, side-to-end (S-E) LVA is considered to be the most efficient one, because it can divert bidirectional lymph flows into venous circulation via 1 anastomosis, but is technically difficult. We developed a new technique for safe and easy S-E LVA with modified intravascular stenting (IVaS) method. Different from the original IVaS method, a lymphatic vessel is pierced by an IVaS before creation of a lateral window. The IVaS is cut after window creation and the ends are inserted into the lymphatic vessel and the venule respectively, guiding the course of the needle throughout the S-E anastomosis procedure. This method makes S-E LVA easier without special instruments.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimatsu
authors.forename: Mitsunaga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narushima
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koshima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014699:Venules / Q000601:surgery