title: Lymphaticovenular anastomosis to prevent cellulitis associated with lymphoedema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the complications of lymphoedema is recurrent cellulitis. The aim was to determine whether lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) was effective at reducing cellulitis in patients with lymphoedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective review of patients with arm/leg lymphoedema who underwent LVA. The frequency of cellulitis was compared before and after surgery. The diagnostic criteria for cellulitis were a fever of 38·5°C or higher, and warmth/redness in the affected limb(s).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 95 patients were included. The mean number of episodes of cellulitis in the year preceding surgery was 1·46, compared with 0·18 in the year after surgery (P < 0·001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LVA reduced the rate of cellulitis in these patients with lymphoedema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Furniss
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narushima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gennaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gabriele
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001132:Arm; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention