Understanding the Lymph System

Understanding the Lymph System

I thought it would be helpful for readers to understand the lymph system, the anatomy, what it does, and how it helps with immunity.

Listed below are information pages that should be quite helpful and each page has many additional links for more a more in depth study.

Anatomy of the Lymph System

Lymphatic System Functions

Lymphatic System and Immunity

Pathology of the Lymph Nodes and Lymphoma

Lymph Nodes

Lymph Fluid

12th State of Georgia Lymphedema Awareness Programm

12th State of Georgia Lymphedema Awareness Program

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Lighthouse Lymphedema Network

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THERE IS STILL TIME TO GET THOSE REGISTRATIONS IN

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An educational and awareness conference for patients, caregivers and professionals!

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Where?

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Saint Joseph Hospital Auditorium 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30342

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When?

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Saturday, October 24, 2009 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

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Click here for Registration Form

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Schedule

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7:30-8:15am Registration – Continental Breakfast – Exhibits 8:15-8:30am Welcome .

Plenary Session:

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8:30-10:00am Moderator: Elaine Gunter, MT (ASCP)

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Nicole Stout, PT, MPT, CLT-LANA Will discuss her studies on early intervention for breast cancer including the anatomy, reconstruction, breast cancer surgeries, truncal and other upper extremity lymphedema

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10:00-10:30am Break Exhibits

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10:30-12:00 Charles McGarvey, PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA

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Lymphedema Secondary to Pelvic Cancer Treatment: A Review of Literature and Clinical Practice

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12:00 – 1:30pm Lunch Exhibits

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1:00-2:15pm Teen (only) Networking -Parent Networking (parents of children with lymphedema)

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Separate sessions

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Plenary Session:

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1:30-2:15pm Daniel Beless, MD, Director of Wound Care at Saint Joseph Hospital Wound Care and the lymphedema patient

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2:15-3:00pm DeCourcy Squire, PT, CLT-LANA

Research updates from the International Society of Lymphology of Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment

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3:00-3:30pm Break Exhibits

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3:30-4:30pm Panel Discussion

All speakers will participate in this question and answer discussion

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4:30-5:00pm Closing Remarks

New Lymphedema Treatment Clinic - Myrtle beach, Souther Carolina

It gives me great pleasure to announce a new lymphedema treatment clinic in the Myrtle Beach, Souther Carolina area:

Tom Kincheloe, OTR/L, CLT
Founder/Clinical Director
RIVERTOWN LYMPHEDEMA CLINIC AND REHAB, LLC.
100 Prather Park Drive, Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588-7910
Bus. Phone: (843) 742-5701
Bus. Fax: (843) 742-5704
Cell: (843) 957-2422
Email: erivertownlymph@sc.rr.com

I know Tom personally and two things strike me about him.

First, is his real concern/compassion for his patients.

Secondly is his knowledge of lymphedema.

A winning combination! So if you live in his area and are looking for lymphedema help, give him a call.

Pat

The contralateral rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap for treatment of lower extremity lymphedema.

One of my desires is to bring all types of information relating to leg lymphedema to the readers. I must admit,

I really had to grit my teeth on this article.

The authors speak of a long term follow up time frame as 31 months. This is hardly adequate when you are

investigating long term possible complications. Indeed, I had the Thompson'sprocedure done in three surgeries

from 1971 through 1973. The first 31 months did see a reduction in leg size and a slight reduction in cellulitis

episodes.

However, long term should mean a 10, 20 or even longer time frame. After twenty years, I experienced horrific

complications from the surgery, not the least of all was mixed b-cell lymphoma.

Also, if the research proves to be correct about the possibilities that secondary lymphedema patients

are people who are already "at risk" for lymphedema, then the introduction of yet another area of surgery (abdomen)

could prove to be disasterous as well. Any type of surgery that would injury, damage or adversly effect the lymph

system in the abdomen can (as has been well documented) cause abdominal lymphedema.

Please do not consider the posting of this article as an endorsement of any kind and I would further discourage

lymphedema patients from having it.

Pat

The contralateral rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap for treatment of lower extremity lymphedema.

Ann Plast Surg. 2009 Jan

Parrett BM, Sepic J., Pribaz JJ

Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115

Lymphedema is common after inguinal lymphadenectomy or resection of groin tumors. Animal studies have shown success using the rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (RAM) flap as a treatment for lymphedema. Four patients with acquired lower extremity lymphedema were treated with a contralateral RAM flap with an inferior cutaneous pedicle left intact to facilitate lymphatic drainage into the unaffected groin. One patient also had lymphaticovenous anastomoses performed during flap transfer. All flaps survived with no postoperative complications. With a mean follow-up of 31 months, the mean reduction in limb circumference from the preoperative excess was 81% at the thigh, 70% at the calf, and 71% at the ankle. None of the patients with recurrent cellulitis had further incidences of groin cellulitis. Two patients required future flap debulking. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed in 1 patient and demonstrated reconstitution of lymphatic flow from the affected leg through the flap. According to this preliminary study, transfer of a contralateral RAM flap to the groin of a lymphedematous leg improves lymphedema and decreases the incidence of cellulitis.

PubMed

For further information on surgeries used for the treatment of lymphedema, please see:

Surgery for Lymphedema

and

The Thompson's Procedure