Monday, March 5, 2012

Regional diagnosis of lymphoedema and selection of sites for lymphaticovenular anastomosis using elastography.

Regional diagnosis of lymphoedema and selection of sites for lymphaticovenular anastomosis using elastography.


Aug 2011

Source

Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. mihara@keiseigeka.name

Abstract


AIM:


To evaluate the use of ultrasound elastography as a basis for determining the most appropriate sites for lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) for treatment of lymphoedema.


MATERIALS AND METHODS:


Preoperative elastography and LVA were performed in 11 patients (11 legs) with leglymphoedema, including two cases of primary oedema and nine of secondary oedema.


RESULTS:


The mean number of LVAs applied per leg was 4.4 (range 3-7). The mean reduction in the leg circumference was 91.7%, and 10 of the 11 cases (90.0%) were improved. Hardness was reduced from a mean of 1.6 before surgery to 0.9 after surgery, and improvement was also noted in 10 cases (90.9%). The severity of oedema was determined in five regions in each leg, and was classified as elastography stage (ES) 0 in 11 regions, ES1 in 23, ES2 in 15, and ES3 in six.


CONCLUSIONS:


These results demonstrate the value of ultrasound elastography for the diagnosis of early-stagelymphoedema and determination of LVA sites. This is the first report of diagnosis of lymphoedema using elastography and the findings suggest that this procedure followed by LVA could be used as a new therapeutic method for early-stage lymphoedema.


ElsevierSciVerse


Friday, March 2, 2012

Treating chronic lower limb lymphedema with the charles procedure in a renal allograft recipient.

Treating chronic lower limb lymphedema with the charles procedure in a renal allograft recipient.


Jan 2012

Source

Department of Surgery, Subdivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan. hsiaosu.wu@gmail.com

Abstract


We report our experience in applying the Charles procedure to a female renal allograft recipient for her left lower leglymphedema. This is a rare comorbidity in limb lymphedema victims, and the use of the Charles procedure has not been reported in such an immunocompromised patient. After surgery, infection was well controlled, and there was minimal scar in the affected limb.


Lippincott, Williams Wilkins Annals of Plastic Surgery


Editor's Note: I posted this page for informational purposes only. I am opposed to surgical reduction of lymphedema except in the most severe cases of lymphedema that does NOT respond to other treatment modalities. This "glowing" article does not even touch on all the complications that can/are associated with surgical debulking surgeries.


Complications of Lymphedema Debulking Surgery


Thompsons's Procedure (The surgery I had)


Charles Procedure


Sistrunk Procedure


Kondolean Procedure


Homan's-Miller Procedure