Frontiers in lymphatic microsurgery

The Authors report an overview on the modern surgical treatment of peripheral lymphoedema. The aim of lymphatic microsurgical operations is to drain the lymph either toward the venous circulation (lympho-venous shunts) or the lymphatic collectors above the obstacle to the lymph flow, with the interposition of lymphatic or venous grafts (lymphatic-venous-lymphatic plasty). Selection of candidate patients for lymphatic microsurgery is based on an adequate diagnostic investigation, which includes above all lymphoscintigraphy, conventional oil contrast lymphangiography, Doppler venous flowmetry and manometry, and, if necessary (angiodysplasias), an accurate study also of the artery circulation. The clinical outcome of lymphatic microsurgery, assessed by water volumetry and lymphangioscintigraphy, performed at variable distance of time from operations till over 5 years after surgery, shows a significant reduction of edema volume and improvement of lymph flow in all patients and that the more precocious the microsurgical treatment the better the results.