Predictive lymphatic mapping: a method for mapping lymphatic channels in patients with advanced unilateral lymphedema using indocyanine green lymphography.

In severe lymphedema, indocyanine green lymphography cannot be used to map lymphatic channels before lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) because linear lymphatics cannot be detected in a severely affected leg. Here, we describe a new method, which we refer to as predictive lymphatic mapping, to predict the location of lymphatics for anastomosis in unilateral lymphedema, thereby improving surgical accuracy and efficiency. The approach consists of marking anatomical landmarks and joining selected landmarks with fixed lines. The distance from these fixed lines to lymphatic channels mapped by indocyanine green lymphography in the unaffected leg is then measured, scaled up based on the difference in circumference between the legs, and transposed to the affected leg. To date, we have used this method in 5 cases of unilateral or asymmetric lymphedema of the lower extremities. In no cases have we failed to find a lymphatic channel suitable for LVA within a 2-cm incision. These results suggest that predictive lymphatic mapping is a useful additional tool for surgeons performing LVA under local anesthesia, which will help to improve the accuracy of incisions and the efficiency of surgery.

Low-invasive lymphatic surgery and lymphatic imaging for completely healed intractable pudendal lymphorrhea after gynecologic cancer treatment.

Lower limb lymphedema and an accompanying lymphatic fistula (lymphorrhea) occur as complications after gynecologic surgery to treat cancer. Herein, we report the case of a 68-year-old woman who underwent resection and radiotherapy because of uterine cervical cancer (stage 2a) 20 years previously. Left lower limb and pudendal lymphedema and continuous lymphorrhea developed soon after surgery. Conservative treatment was administered; however, the edema increased, and a pudendal lymphatic fistula and cellulitis developed repeatedly. Lymphovascular anastomosis (LVA) and lymph vessel ligation were performed after preoperative evaluation via lymphoscintigraphy and indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography. A radioisotope injected into the first interdigit pedal region flowed into the pudendal region via the inguinal lymph nodes at preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Linear patterns were observed up to the half level of the crus, and stardust patterns occurred over the lower abdominal and pudendal regions at ICG lymphography. During surgery, ICG lymphography was also used to identify the site of the fistula. With the patient under local anesthesia, LVA was applied in the half crus and left inguinal regions, followed by ligation and division of lymph vessels flowing into the fistula. The region around the fistula was excised as a 1 × 3-cm tissue block. As of 5 months after surgery, no recurrence of lymphatic fistula or exacerbation of lymphedema has occurred. This case shows the effectiveness of preoperative ICG lymphography and lymphoscintigraphy followed by treatment via lymph vessel ligation and LVA for curative resolution of a lymphatic fistula.

The influence of the obesity paradox and chronic kidney disease on long-term survival in a Japanese cohort with peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed risk factors for mortality in peripheral arterial disease (PAD), including body mass index (BMI) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Risk factors for long-term survival are unclear in patients with PAD. The origin of the obesity paradox, a paradoxical decrease in mortality with increasing BMI, is also uncertain in these patients. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed in 652 patients (aged 71.3 +/- 9.4 years old) with PAD. RESULTS: The 1-, 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates were 94.5%, 70.4%, 45.2%, and 21.1%, respectively, in patients with intermittent claudication, and 72.7%, 27.2%, 11.6%, and 5.8%, respectively, in those with critical limb ischemia (CLI). In Cox multivariate analysis, a significant association with all-cause mortality was found for CLI (hazard ratio [HR], 1.931; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.089-3.422; P = .024), diabetes (HR, 2.111; 95% CI, 1.247-3.572; P = .005), BMI (HR, 0.879; 95% CI, 0.804-0.962; P = .005), and eGFR (HR, 0.985; 95% CI, 0.971-0.998l; P = .028). These parameters were also significant risk factors for cardiovascular mortality. Fibrinogen (HR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001-1.005; P = .014) and cerebrovascular disease (HR, 1.730; 95% CI, 1.021-2.930; P = .045) were identified as risk factors for all-cause mortality. The adjusted HR for mortality of BMI <21.5 vs >or=21.5 kg/m(2) was 1.772 (95% CI, 1.378-2.279; P < .001). BMI had positive correlations with triglyceride and albumin concentrations and negative correlations with the fibrinogen level and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Low BMI, eGFR, CLI, and diabetes are significant risk factors for mortality in PAD. The obesity paradox was verified and may be partly explained by low BMI mediated by malnutrition and systemic inflammation due to PAD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography is superior to lymphoscintigraphy for diagnostic imaging of early lymphedema of the upper limbs.

BACKGROUND: Secondary lymphedema causes swelling in limbs due to lymph retention following lymph node dissection in cancer therapy. Initiation of treatment soon after appearance of edema is very important, but there is no method for early diagnosis of lymphedema. In this study, we compared the utility of four diagnostic imaging methods: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), lymphoscintigraphy, and Indocyanine Green (ICG) lymphography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 2010 and November 2011, we examined 21 female patients (42 arms) with unilateral mild upper limb lymphedema using the four methods. The mean age of the patients was 60.4 years old (35-81 years old). Biopsies of skin and collecting lymphatic vessels were performed in 7 patients who underwent lymphaticovenous anastomosis. RESULTS: The specificity was 1 for all four methods. The sensitivity was 1 in ICG lymphography and MRI, 0.62 in lymphoscintigraphy, and 0.33 in CT. These results show that MRI and ICG lymphography are superior to lymphoscintigraphy or CT for diagnosis of lymphedema. In some cases, biopsy findings suggested abnormalities in skin and lymphatic vessels for which lymphoscintigraphy showed no abnormal findings. ICG lymphography showed a dermal backflow pattern in these cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the importance of dual diagnosis by examination of the lymphatic system using ICG lymphography and evaluation of edema in subcutaneous fat tissue using MRI.

Scarless lymphatic venous anastomosis for latent and early-stage lymphoedema using indocyanine green lymphography and non-invasive instruments for visualising subcutaneous vein.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoedema can be treated conservatively or surgically. Early treatment is important, but the surgical indication and the effect of surgery on pain in lymphoedema-affected limbs have not been described. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of low-invasive scarless lymphatic venous anastomosis (LVA) for early or latent lymphoedema. METHODS: LVA was performed in six patients (eight legs) with leg lymphoedema between April 2010 and March 2011. Lymphoedema was stage 0 (defined as subclinical) in three patients (five legs) and stage 1 in three patients (three legs). Subjective symptoms, circumference of the affected leg and a lymphoscintigram were evaluated before and 6 months after surgery. Preoperatively, subcutaneous lymph vessels and veins were identified non-invasively using ICG lymphoscintigraphy and non-invasive instruments for visualising subcutaneous vein, AccuVein system, through the skin. These vessels and veins were secured with vessel loops passed underneath and side-to-side anastomosed under a surgical microscope. RESULTS: Subjective symptoms improved after surgery in all patients. The leg circumference improved in stage 1 cases, which all had an increased circumference before surgery. Lymph retention was observed on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in all six patients and was improved after surgery in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Scarless LVA performed through a small incision improves abnormal lymph circulation and subjective symptoms in cases of early lymphoedema, in which the limb circumference has just started to increase, and latent lymphoedema, in which the circumference has not increased, but abnormal findings on lymphoscintigraphy or subjective symptoms are present.