Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer Improved Outcomes of Elderly Patients with Secondary Upper Extremity Lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: Secondary lymphedema is a debilitating morbidity. This study investigated the outcomes of vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) in elderly patients with secondary upper extremity lymphedema. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2018, elderly (≥65 years) patients with secondary upper extremity lymphedema who underwent VLNT were retrospectively reviewed. Cheng's Lymphedema Grading, Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging, and indocyanine green lymphography were used to select the procedures. Outcome measurements included complications, circumferential difference, episodes of cellulitis, and the Lymphedema-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (LYMQoL). RESULTS: Eleven patients with a mean age of 70.2 ± 5.3 years (range 65-80 years) who underwent VLNT survived and no major complications were encountered. At a mean follow-up of 6.5 ± 3.6 years (range 2-13 years), the mean limb circumferential difference was significantly improved from 25.6 ± 11.5% to 8.3 ± 4.2% (p = 0.016), and the mean episode of cellulitis was statistically reduced from 2.4 ± 1.3 to 0.4 ± 0.9 times/year (p = 0.007). At a follow-up of 24 months, four domains of Function (from 30.6 ± 2.8 to 14.5 ± 2.5), Appearance (from 18.2 ± 1.9 to 8.5 ± 2.1), Symptoms (from 30.4 ± 5.9 to 10.9 ± 1.0) and Mood (from 29.2 ± 4.4 to 10.7 ± 1.0), as well as overall LYMQoL score (from 3.9 ± 1.1 to 7.4 ± 0.5), showed statistical improvement (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: VLNT for secondary upper extremity lymphedema in elderly patients significantly decreased the limb circumferential difference and frequency of cellulitis and improved quality of life without using compression garments postoperatively.

Retrograde Manual Lymphatic Drainage following Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer to Distal Recipient Sites for Extremity Lymphedema: A Retrospective Study and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Vascularized lymph node transfer is an efficacious treatment for extremity lymphedema. This study investigated the outcome of retrograde manual lymphatic drainage for vascularized lymph node transfer to distal recipient sites. METHODS: Lymphedema patients who underwent either complete decongestive therapy or vascularized lymph node transfer between 2013 and 2018 were retrospectively included. Retrograde manual lymphatic drainage was started with intermittent manual compression and the assistance of a sphygmomanometer and proximal-to-distal massage of the limb 1 month postoperatively. Outcomes evaluations used the circumferential reduction rate and the Lymphedema-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire. Outcomes of vascularized lymph node transfer to proximal versus distal recipient sites in the literature between 2006 and 2018 were also compared. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight unilateral extremity lymphedema patients, including 68 patients in the complete decongestive therapy group and 70 patients in the vascularized lymph node transfer group, were included. The mean circumferential reduction rate of 38.9 ± 2.5 percent in the vascularized lymph node transfer group was statistically greater than the 13.2 ± 10.1 percent rate in the complete decongestive therapy group (p = 0.01). At a mean follow-up of 36 months, the improvement of overall Lymphedema-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire score from 3.8 ± 0.3 to 7.5 ± 1.8 in the vascularized lymph node transfer group was statistically greater than that in the complete decongestive therapy group (from 4.7 ± 0.9 to 5.0 ± 1.9; p < 0.01). In total, 536 lymphedema patients who underwent 548 vascularized lymph node transfers in 23 published articles were reviewed; the distal recipient-site group was found to have more efficacious results than the proximal recipient-site group. CONCLUSION: Vascularized lymph node transfer to a distal recipient site with standard retrograde manual lymphatic drainage significantly improved circumferential reduction rates and Lymphedema-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire scores. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Lymphedema and concomitant venous comorbidity in the extremity: Comprehensive evaluation, management strategy, and outcomes.

BACKGROUD: The optimal approaches for concurrent vascular lesions with limb lymphedema are not well established. The purpose of the study was to investigate the outcome of the surgical management of lymphedema with concomitant vascular lesions. METHODS: Between August 2010 and November 2015, 15 consecutive patients with extremity lymphedema and concomitant vascular lesions treated with vascularized lymph node flaps were reviewed. The patients had vascular interventions discovered during workup for lymphedema surgery. Outcomes were assessed using circumferential difference (CD) and circumferential reduction rate (CRR) at 12-month and final follow-up visits. RESULTS: Vascular lesions (n = 15) included proximal arterial occlusion ( n = 1), vascular malformation ( n = 2), and proximal venous compression/stenosis ( n = 12). Concomitant vascular lesions had an incidence of 15.8% in patients that underwent vascularized lymph node transfers (VLNTs). We had 100% VLNT survival rate and average number of episodes of cellulitis after VLNTs decreased significantly ( p < 0.05). The CRR for the below knee/elbow measurement at 12-months follow-up was significantly higher for patients that underwent vascular intervention for venous lesions before VLNT instead of concurrently or after (23.7% vs 12.2%, P = 0.23). Final mean CRR was 23.7% and 12.2% respectively. CONCLUSION: Preoperative workup of concomitant vascular lesions is important for lymphedema management. We suggest appropriate vascular intervention should be done prior to VLNT to maximize the short-term and long-term outcomes.

Cost Analysis of 48 Burn Patients in a Mass Casualty Explosion Treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the costs of treating burn patients after a mass casualty event. A devastating Color Dust explosion that injured 499 patients occurred on June 27, 2015 in Taiwan. This study was performed to investigate the economic effects of treating burn patients at a single medical center after an explosion disaster. METHODS: A detailed retrospective analysis on 48 patient expense records at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital after the Color Dust explosion was performed. Data were collected during the acute treatment period between June 27, 2015 and September 30, 2015. The distribution of cost drivers for the entire patient cohort (n=48), patients with a percent total body surface area burn (%TBSA)≥50 (n=20), and those with %TBSA <50 (n=28) were analyzed. RESULTS: The total cost of 48 burn patients over the acute 3-month time period was $2,440,688, with a mean cost per patient of $50,848 ±36,438. Inpatient ward fees (30%), therapeutic treatment fees (22%), and medication fees (11%) were found to be the three highest cost drivers. The 20 patients with a %TBSA ≥50 consumed $1,559,300 (63.8%) of the total expenses, at an average cost of $77,965±34,226 per patient. The 28 patients with a %TBSA <50 consumed $881,387 (36.1%) of care expenses, at an average cost of $31,478±23,518 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: In response to this mass casualty event, inpatient ward fees represented the largest expense. Hospitals can reduce this fee by ensuring wound dressing and skin substitute materials are regionally stocked and accessible. Medication fees may be higher than expected when treating a mass burn cohort. In preparation for a future event, hospitals should anticipate patients with a %TBSA≥50 will contribute the majority of inpatient expenses.

The versatility of profunda femoral artery perforator flap for oncological reconstruction after cancer resection-Clinical cases and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: The profunda feomris artery perforator (PAP) flap was recently revisited and gains popularity as an alternative method of autologous breast reconstruction. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that PAP flap can be used reliably for reconstruction of various soft tissue defects. METHODS: A total of 55 free PAP flaps and 16 pedicle PAP flaps were transferred in 63 patients. Each case was reviewed to verify a PAP flap was performed identifying defect location, flap size, flap design, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Seven flaps in five patients underwent breast reconstructions, 48 patients underwent head and neck reconstructions using free PAP flaps. The mean perforator number was 1.9, and the average pedicles length was 9.7 cm. The majority of perforators were musculocutaneous, and the others were septocutaneous. The mean ischemia time was 121.4 min. Minor complications included wound poor healing, flap partial necrosis, and pedicle vessels problems. Sixteen pedicle PAP flaps were transferred in 10 patients for vulvar reconstruction. Minor complications included urinary tract infection, poor wound healing, wound infection, hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomy and number of perforators of PAP flap are reliable with adequate pedicle length. This flap can be an excellent option for reconstruction of most soft tissue defects. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:193-201. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Successful treatment of early-stage lower extremity lymphedema with side-to-end lymphovenous anastomosis with indocyanine green lymphography assisted.

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate intraoperative assessment of side-to-end lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) with indocyanine green (ICG) and the correlation between its patency and surgical outcome. METHODS: LVA was applied to five patients with early-stage lower extremity lymphedema. Side-to-end anastomosis and then end-to-end anastomosis were created as a second alternative. Immediately after the anastomosis, ICG was used to confirm its patency. RESULTS: The mean number of anastomoses was 2.0 ± 0.7, and the types of anastomoses were primarily side-to-end and secondarily end-to-end. The mean reduction rate was 63.8 ± 20.2% after LVA at 10 ± 6.4 months of follow-up. In all cases, the affected extremities became soft immediately after surgery, and no cellulitis episodes were observed. CONCLUSION: Side-to-end LVA can be an effective treatment for early-stage lower extremity lymphedema. ICG lymphodynamic assessment is useful not only in the preoperative identification of functional lymphatics but also in the intraoperative visualization of new drainage routes in LVA surgery. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:310-315, 2016.

Simultaneous Bilateral Submental Lymph Node Flaps for Lower Limb Lymphedema Post Leg Charles Procedure.

We summarize the case of a 59-year-old woman with left lower limb lymphedema for 4 years post hysterectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for endometrial cancer. She underwent the Charles procedure on her left leg 2 years before being referred to our hospital and developed several cellulitis episodes and progressive lymphedema affecting her left toes and thigh. Bilateral vascularized submental lymph node flaps were transferred to her left ankle and thigh, respectively. After a 5-month follow-up, the leg became softer and lighter without relapsing cellulites, and the circumferential reduction rates at 15 cm above knee, 15 cm below knee, and 10 cm above ankle were 23.3%, 50%, and 22.2%, respectively. The patient was satisfied with the functional recovery and discontinued use of compression garment postoperatively.