title: A head-to-head comparison among donor site morbidity after vascularized lymph node transfer: Pearls and pitfalls of a 6-year single center experience.
abstract: Between 2010 and 2016, 110 patients with extremity lymphedema underwent vascularized lymph node (VLN) transfer: groin (G-VLN = 20), supraclavicular (SC-VLN = 54), and right gastroepiploic (RGE-VLN = 36) open and laparoscopic approach. Herein, we discuss the pearls and pitfalls for VLN harvest and compare donor site morbidity and complications. Lymphatic leakage: G-VLN (n = 1) and SC-VLN (n = 1) and one hematoma: SC-VLN were found. Laparoscopic harvest of the RGE-VLN reduces donor site morbidity. However, surgeons experience is imperative to minimize donor site morbidity and complications. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017;115:37-42. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciudad
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Oscar J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Manrique
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shivprasad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Date
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sacak
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kidakorn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiranantawat
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Seong Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: donor site morbidity; lymph node flap transfer; lymphaticovenous anastomosis; lymphedema; vascularized lymph node transfer