Microsurgical Lymphatic Vessel Transplantation for Chronic Lymphedema: Long-Term Evaluation of Volume Reduction and Lymphatic Transport Kinetics
This study investigates long-term volume reduction after microsurgical autologous lymphatic vessel transplantation (LVT) in patients with chronic lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is caused by inadequate lymphatic drainage and leads to swelling, pain, and a reduced quality of life. Conservative treatments of...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/914 |
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| Summary: | This study investigates long-term volume reduction after microsurgical autologous lymphatic vessel transplantation (LVT) in patients with chronic lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is caused by inadequate lymphatic drainage and leads to swelling, pain, and a reduced quality of life. Conservative treatments often show only limited success, which is why surgical procedures such as LVT are increasingly gaining in importance. In a retrospective long-term analysis, patients who underwent LVT between 1988 and 2010 were examined on average 21.7 years after surgery. The examination included pre- and post-operative volume measurements, which were supplemented by modern 3D body scanner analyses and lymphoscintigraphy. The results show a significant volume reduction both in the short term (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and at the follow-up examination (<i>p</i> = 0.04). There was no significant difference between manual volumetry with circumferential measurements and 3D volumetry (<i>p</i> = 0.775). The improvement in lymph transport capacity was considerable (<i>p</i> = 0.078). This study provides valuable insights for the further development of lymphatic surgery. While preferred surgical methods change over time, this study demonstrates that LVT can make a decisive contribution to improving the quality of life of lymphedema patients. |
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| ISSN: | 2075-1729 |