Lymphedema: A General Outline of Its Anatomical Base.

The anatomic research of the lymphatic system has been a very controversial subject throughout due to the complexity of the methods for its visualization. More than 30 years ago, together with Prof. Caplan, we began the vascular anatomy research, focusing on the lymphatic anatomy, developing and adapting different techniques of injection. On the third Normal Anatomy Chair of Buenos Aires University, we summarized the lymphatic drainage of the breast and the limbs to interpret the anatomic bases of lymphedema.

[A personal technic using a pediculate flap in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema]. / Técnica personal de colgajo pediculado en el tratamiento de linfedema postmastectomía.

A new technic of pediculate lymphoangioplasty for the treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema in order to achieve an effective drainage of the upper extremity, is presented. It may be associated to lymphatic venous anastomosis or the Thompson's surgery, according to the evolutive state of the illness. This technic consists of two steps: 1) flap's drawing as to direct the vascular flow to its base, 2) implantation of the flap, without epithelium, in the posterior face of the arm, after celuloaponeurectomy and invagination of the skin's edges of the arm, also without epithelium, over the flap. The lymphatic drainage is then improved to the supraclavicular, contra lateral axillary, inter costal and/or inguinal lymphnodes.