LVAs in a Pedicled SIEA Flap for the Treatment of Recurrent Lymphocele of the Groin Using Superficial Veins of the Flap for Lymphovenous Anastomosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Persistent lymphocele of the groin is a complication of groin surgery that can severely impact the quality of life. The restoration of the interrupted lymphatic pathway is considered by many authors the ideal treatment to prevent a recurrence. However, multiple aspiration procedures and surgical revisions can compromise the availability of local veins needed for a lymphovenular bypass surgery. In addition, surgical debridement of a long-standing lymphocele can generate extensive dead space and contour deformity. A flap delivering additional venules for trans-flap lymphovenular anastomoses (LVAs) can overcome both problems by providing soft tissue and competent veins harvested outside the zone of injury. A successful case of severe groin lymphocele treated with trans-flap LVAs from an abdominal-based flap is presented. The patient was referred to us for a recurrent lymphocele developed in the right groin after lipoma excision that persisted despite multiple surgical attempts. After the identification of patent and draining inguinal lymphatic vessels, a pinch test was used to design a mini-abdominoplasty superficial inferior epigastric artery flap. The superficial veins of the cranial incision were identified and anastomosed to the lymphatic vessels after the pedicled flap harvested and insetted in the groin. The early restoration of lymphatic drainage and the optimal aesthetic outcome supports the combined approach offered by trans-flap LVAs as a valuable therapeutic option for severe and persistent lymphocele.

Reducing the burden: managing lymphoedema and its complications.

Lymphoedema effects approximately 200 000 people in UK. It is a chronic condition without a cure but there is much that can be done to ease and manage these complications. This article looks at the eight most common complications, providing advise on how to manage them, derived from the literature and the author's own experience. It also presents advise on how nurses can promote self-management of these complications, promoting patients' self-care.

Total Sealing Technique (TST) with a bipolar vessel sealing system reduces lymphorrhea and seroma formation for axillary lymph node dissection in primary breast cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of a novel surgical procedure, the Total Sealing Technique (TST), using the latest bipolar vessel sealing system (BVSS; LigaSure™ Exact Dissector) to reduce lymphatic leakage and seroma formation after electrocautery axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer surgery. Prolonged drainage is a common occurrence after ALND, primarily due to lymphatic leakage. In addition, the presence of seroma often leads to delays in the administration of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy even after drain removal. Methods: We conducted a comparative analysis of 36 patients who underwent total mastectomy with ALND using conventional electrocautery technique (CONV) during the first 3 years, and 35 patients who underwent the same procedure using TST during the subsequent 3 years. The following factors were compared to assess the impact of TST: operation time, blood loss, total drainage volume, mean time to drain removal, postoperative hospital stay, mean time to initiation of postoperative chemotherapy, and postoperative complications in each group. Results: TST significantly reduced drainage volume (360.5 vs. 820.6 mL, p < 0.001), days to drain removal (4.8 vs. 6.8 days, p < 0.001), postoperative hospital stay (5.9 vs. 9.6 days, p < 0.001), the incidence of seroma (28.6 % vs. 65.9 %, p = 0.001), and time to chemotherapy initiation (33.1 vs. 61.4 days, p < 0.001) compared to CONV. Conclusions: TST in total mastectomy with ALND effectively decreases the incidence of lymphorrhea and seroma formation; thus, it can be recommended for total mastectomy with ALND.

Intranodal glue embolization for lymphorrhea following inguinal lymphadenectomy in penile cancer: A case report.

An 86-year-old man underwent total penectomy and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy (ILND) for penile cancer with an enlarged right inguinal lymph node. The accumulation of 100-150 ml of lymphatic fluid was observed in the right inguinal drain in a day after surgery. Compression was performed, without any improvement in lymphorrhea. During the right inguinal lymphangiography performed on postoperative day (POD) 28, lymphorrhea was still detected. Lymphorrhea was improved 2 days after intranodal glue embolization (IGE) was performed using a mixture of lipiodol and n-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate (NBCA). IGE was effective for intractable lymphorrhea after ILND in penile cancer.

Management of complications after skin surgery relevant for melanoma in the trunk and extremities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case series report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with melanoma have been found to be at greater risk of adverse outcomes including mortality after contacting COVID-19. Management of postsurgical complications presented additional challenges by potentially increasing exposure to COVID-19 through repeated inpatient admissions to hospital during the pandemic. We report four cases for which skin flaps, lymph ligation, and split-thickness skin graft (STSG) were successfully used in the treatment of complications in the trunk and extremities after wide local excision (WLE). This study details the operative experience in management of postsurgical complications for melanoma in the trunk and extremities during a 6-month period at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. CASE PRESENTATION: We present 4 cases detailing management of complications that occurred after wide local excisions performed for melanoma during Feb. to Oct. 2020. Case 1: A 90-year-old man who experienced wound dehiscence and necrosis on the shoulder after non-radical excision for an aggressive melanoma and underwent the side-to-side closure after ellipse formed WLE with modified tangent-to-circle method. Case 2: An 80-year-old man who had undergone excision for melanoma in his left upper arm and histopathology did not show radically. Two weeks after the excision, he underwent a WLE and direct reconstruction with double rotation skin flap. Case 3: A 55-year-old man that experienced a large wound dehiscence on his back due to WLE. He underwent an advanced double skin flap operation. Case 4: A 36-year-old woman who had a lymphorrhea and graft necrosis after WLE and STSG on the right lower leg. A combination of micro lymph ligation and re-STSG was performed. One month after the operation, all wounds had healed. There was no clinical evidence of tumor recurrence after 8 months post procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Severe complications (e.g., large wound dehiscence, necrosis, or lymphorrhea) following wide local excision of melanoma are infrequent but must be swiftly and appropriately managed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic to decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 infection and impaired oncology outcomes from delaying systemic cancer therapy due to the complications in primary interventions.

Lymphography using microbubbles and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) before lymphatic supermicrosurgery for severe lymphorrhea of lower extremity.

Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) is an effective surgical treatment for lymphorrhea. However, the traditional indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent lymphography mapping for lymphatic vessels has limitations, it can only depict the initial capillary lymphatic network localized in the dermis of the skin, which cannot visualize lymphatics deeper than 1.5 cm. A new mapping technique, microbubbles and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can address the problem. In one case of lymphocutaneous fistula, for the first time, we used microbubbles and CEUS technique for preoperative localization for LVAs. Microbubbles and CEUS can identify deep lymphatic vessels and better evaluate the function of lymphatic vessels. The patient's symptoms of edema and lymphorrhea improved clinically. Microbubbles and CEUS is an effective methods for identifying lymphatic vessels in lower limbs.

Lymphoscintigraphy with single-photon emission computerized tomography/computed tomography for evaluating lymphatic leakage following pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Lymphatic ascites following pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is a well-known complication. Surgical treatment and interventional radiology are required in a few cases. To determine the appropriate treatment strategy, it is important to preoperatively detect the presence and location of lymphatic leakage. However, the methods have yet to be established. We report a case in which lymphoscintigraphy with single-photon emission computerized tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) was performed to evaluate pelvic lymphorrhea that occurred following total hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy for stage IIIA uterine sarcoma. Lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT showed leakage of radioisotopes into the pelvic space, and intranodal lymphangiography was performed based on these findings. Following the procedure, the pelvic lymphorrhea improved, and no radioisotope leakage was confirmed by re-evaluation with lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT. Our case indicates that lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT may be useful for detecting the precise site of lymphatic leakage before interventional radiology or surgery.

Efficacy of octreotide to reduce lymphorrhea and prevent lymphocele after pelvic lymph node excision in gynecological malignancies.

AIM: To study the efficacy of octreotide to reduce lymphorrhea and prevent lymphocele after pelvic lymph node excision in gynecological malignancies. METHODS: Patients with more than 200 mL of lymph drained per day until postoperative day 3 after pelvic lymph node excision were enrolled. Of the 75 patients, 36 were managed by conservative methods without the injection of octreotide, and the other 39 patients were treated with the injection of octreotide. The treated group was injected with 0.1 mg octreotide q8h for 5 days, starting on postoperative day 3. The drainage tube was removed when the amount of drained lymph decreased to 100 mL per day. The age, BMI, operation time, removed lymph nodes, amount of lymph, duration of drain placement, proportion of patients with lymphocele and complications between these two group were compared. RESULTS: The total and mean daily amount of lymph produced per patient was significantly lower in the octreotide-treated group than in the untreated group. The duration of drain placement was shorter in the octreotide group than in the untreated group. The proportion of patients with lymphocele in the treatment group was lower than that in the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: The injection of octreotide is effective to reduce lymphorrhea and prevent lymphocele after pelvic lymph node excision in gynecological malignancies.

Successful percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography and embolization for intractable hepatic lymphorrhea after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic lymphorrhea is a rare and serious complication of surgery for digestive tract cancers and is thought to occur as a result of lymph node dissection of the hepatoduodenal ligament. This complication results in the accumulation of lymphatic fluid, which may in turn lead to nutritional disorders, immune deficiency, and circulation insufficiency. However, there is currently no standard strategy for treating this condition. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old woman with alcoholic liver damage underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for early gastric cancer. Abundant ascites persisted postoperatively, and the fluid was suspected to indicate hepatic lymphorrhea. The patient was re-admitted on postoperative day 26 due to the onset of a brain infarction caused by dehydration. Various conservative treatments for hepatic lymphorrhea were ineffective. She underwent percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography and embolization on postoperative day 81, with obvious effect. Computed tomography images demonstrated complete disappearance of ascites. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative hepatic lymphorrhea is a rare and serious complication of radical surgery for digestive tract cancers. The current case suggests that percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography and embolization may be a rational treatment option when conservative treatments fail.

Risk factors for lymphorrhea and lymphocele after radical prostatectomy: a retrospective case-control study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk factors for postoperative lymphorrhea or/and lymphocele (PLL) in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 606 patients were retrospectively collected. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to identify the optimal cutoff value. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to screen the independent predictors of PLL. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that nine factors differed between the PLL and non-PLL group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that low preoperative fibrinogen level, extraperitoneal surgery, robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP), and hypoalbuminemia were risk factors and the use of fibrin glue was a protective factor. Correlation analysis showed that the scope of LN dissection (LND) and number of lymph nodes (LNs) dissected were positively correlated with PLL in the extraperitoneal approach, but were not significantly correlated with PLL in the transperitoneal approach. The use of fibrin glue was negatively associated with PLL in the overall procedure and the extraperitoneal approach, but not significantly so in the transperitoneal approach. Comparison of LNs clearance between the two surgical approaches revealed that the extent of LND and number of LNs dissected in the extraperitoneal approach were less than in the transperitoneal approach. CONCLUSION: During RALRP, more attention should be paid to fully clotting the broken end of lymphatic vessels. The use of fibrin glue could reduce the probability of PLL. The extent of LND or number of LNs dissected were positively correlated with PLL in the extraperitoneal approach.

Lymphatic flow through (LyFT) ALT flap: an original solution to reconstruct soft tissue loss with lymphatic leakage or lower limb lymphedema.

INTRODUCTION: The lympho-venous shunt using the distal vein of ALT flap pedicle allowed at the same time the coverage of the inguinal defects and to perform lymphovenous shunt into a run-in vein of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral pedicle, draining the lymph through the flap pedicle. Surgical technique, complications and final outcomes (both clinical and lymphoscintigraphic) are reported. METHODS: Five patients (45.8 y.o.[22-70]) with groin soft tissue loss with lymphatic leakage or lower limb lymphedema, benefited of the described technique. The ALT flap was used to cover the defect and, at the same time, we could perform a lymphovenous shunt between afferent lymphatics to the thigh and the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral pedicle, distal to the perforator nourishing the flap. Clinical and lymphoscintigraphic assessment of the limbs, cease of lymphorrhea or cellulitis/lymphangitis episodes, eventual downstaging of physiologic/physical therapy were recorded. LYMphatic Quality Of Life in leg (LYMQoLLeg) and patient satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: Average flap size was 88.8cm2 (range 84-126). The mean number of multi-lymphovenous anastomosis (MLVA) performed was 1.8 (range 1-3) per patient with 1-3 lymphatics shunted into each vein. Only one hemato-seroma requiring surgical revision. Mean improvement of perometer values was 48.2% (range 27.7-67.7) with an average follow-up of 13.6 months (range 12-17). Lymphoscintigraphy showed disappearing of the lymphatic leak and lymphedema with a high satisfaction of LYMQoL score. DISCUSSION: The combination of pedicle flap with lympho-venous bypass as lymphatic derivation concept, improving the chronic morbidity scenarios of lymphatic complications.

Does Preventive Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) reduce local complications following Lymph Node Dissection (LND) in the management of metastatic skin tumors?

INTRODUCTION: Axillary and inguinal lymph node dissection (LND) are performed in metastatic skin tumors with several local complications, such as lymphorrhea, lymphoceles, and lymphedema. The purpose of this study is to determine whether negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) applied as a preventive measure could improve outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A monocentric study included patients who underwent axillary or inguinal LND from May 2010 to March 2020, with a retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data. Patients were divided into two groups: the conventional wound care (CWC) and the NPWT groups. Patients were systematically reviewed at D7, D30, and at 1 year postoperative, and data regarding lymphorrhea, lymphoceles, and lymphedema were collected. RESULTS: A total of 109 axillary and inguinal LND were performed. NPWT was applied on 68 LND and CWC on 41 LND. The variables, diabetes, smoking, gender, associated treatments, and primary pathology (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or Merkel tumors) were similar in both groups. Analyses have shown a significant difference in the rate of scar disunion during the first month between the two groups (p=0.045 between D1 and D7; p=0.011 between D8 and D30), as well as the presence of lymphorrhea (p=0.000 between D1 and D7; p=0.002 between D8 and D30). The rate of lymphoedema was significantly reduced in the NPWT group versus CWC (p=0.000 between D8 and D30; p=0.034 between D31 and 1 year). CONCLUSION: NPWT reduces local complications (scar disunion, lymphorrhea, and lymphedema) during the first year following LND in the management of node metastatic skin tumors.

Single-Session Intranodal Glue Embolization for Postsurgical Refractory Groin Lymphorrhea: A Case Report.

A 90-year-old female presented with poor right groin wound healing due to lymphorrhea and infection following a surgical cutdown procedure for arterial revascularization. Although negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and inguinal lymphadenectomy were performed, infection and lymphorrhea did not heal. Lymphangiography via a right inguinal lymph node revealed lymphatic leakage in the wound. Intranodal glue embolization (IGE) was performed by injecting 0.6 mL of 33% n-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate (NBCA)-lipiodol mixture. Additionally, the presence of glue in an open wound was directly confirmed in this case. After embolization, lymphorrhea ceased, and the wound healed completely. No lymphorrhea recurrence or complications were observed for 6 months. This case suggests that IGE could be an effective treatment for groin lymphorrhea.

Supermicrosurgical lymphatic venous anastomosis for intractable lymphocele after great saphenous vein harvesting graft.

Lymphoceles result from either trauma to the lymphatic vessels or after vein graft harvest, which occurs in 10% to 16% of patients. When a lymphocele persists despite conservative treatment, patients can experience undue distress. We have reported the case of successful treatment using lymphatic venous anastomosis (LVA) of an intractable lymphocele that had been refractory to conservative treatment, including stretch bandaging, drainage, and local injection for 2 years after great saphenous vein harvest. The lymphocele resolved shortly after the LVA without any adverse effects. LVA can be a useful and minimally invasive alternative treatment of lymphocele after harvesting the great saphenous vein.

Percutaneous embolization of hepatic lymphorrhea post-hepatectomy.

Abdominal effusion due to hepatic lymphorrhea post-hepatectomy is an extremely rare and complex complication in clinical practice. No standard treatment method has been established for this condition to date. We report a case of complicated intra-abdominal lymphatic leakage in a patient following hepatectomy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient underwent percutaneous embolization of the hilar hepatic lymphatic system, combined with intensive medical treatment. Percutaneous embolization represents a safe and effective method that should be considered as a first-line treatment for this complication.

Effect of Octreotide on Lymphorrhea in Patients After Modified Radical Mastectomy for Carcinoma Breast: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction Lymphorrhea or seroma formation after modified radical mastectomy (MRM) is a serious and disabling complication of axillary lymphadenectomy. Octreotide is a hormone with general anti-secretory effects. The potential role of octreotide in the treatment of lymphorrhea after axillary lymph node dissection in patients undergoing MRM is being investigated in this study. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of octreotide on the magnitude and duration of lymphorrhea in patients after MRM for carcinoma breast. Methods This clinical trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI/2017/11/010653). It was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi from September 2015 to March 2017. This study is a parallel randomized controlled trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Thirty patients were enrolled and allocated equally into two groups. The intervention group received standard medical care plus injection octreotide 100 micrograms eight hourly intravenously post-operatively for five days and the control group received only standard medical care. The primary outcomes were lymphorrhea volume from 24 hours post-surgery till five days post-operatively and the number of days till the suction drain was removed. Secondary outcomes were surgical site infection, the incidence of seroma formation, complications of octreotide, duration of hospital stay, and the number of lymph nodes isolated. All the patients were followed up twice a week for the first six weeks after discharge followed by three monthly visits. Results A total of 30 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 46.2 years. The mean operative time in the control group was 137.87 ± 23.28 minutes and in the octreotide group was 128.13 ± 12.29 (p = 0.163). The volume of lymphorrhea in the control group was 354.67 ± 346.28 ml and in the octreotide group was 194.00 ± 240.62 ml (p = 0.081). Seroma occurred in 9% of patients in the control group and 2 % of patients in the octreotide group (p = 0.010). The duration of lymphorrhea was 4.93 ± 2.49 days in the control group and 3.13 ± 1.36 days in the octreotide group (p = 0.029). The duration of stay was 7.07 ± 2.40 days in the control group and 5.13 ± 1.06 days in the octreotide and was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.010). No obvious adverse reactions related to injection octreotide, namely, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, hypotension, bradycardia, and dysglycemia, were seen in any of our patients. Conclusion The duration of lymphorrhea, incidence of seroma formation, and duration of hospital stay were lesser in the octreotide group, and the difference was statistically significant. The wound infection rates were similar in both groups. Thus injection octreotide can be used safely and effectively.

Bipolar vessel sealing system versus silk ligation of lymphatic vessels in renal transplant recipient lymphatic complications: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to compare lymphatic complications of bipolar vessel sealing system with silk ligation of lymphatic vessels among renal transplant recipients. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial done among 68 patients undergoing renal transplantation in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. They were randomly assigned to either silk ligation or Enseal bipolar vessel sealing lymphatic dissection. Postoperative drain volume and duration of drain placement were measured in all patients. Ultrasound was used to find lymphocele formation in six and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Total of 30 patients in silk ligation group and 28 patients in bipolar vessel sealing group were analyzed. The baseline characteristics of the patients in each group were similar. Overall, lymphatic complications (either lymphorrhea or lymphocele formation) were in 16 cases (27.58%), 7 (25%) in the bipolar group, and 9 (30%) in the silk ligation group (p = 0.67). A total of 13 patients (22.41%) had lymphorrhea, 6 (21.4%) patients in the bipolar group, and 7 (23.3%) patients in the silk ligation group. Median drain volume was 415 ml (Q1 275 ml, Q3 675 ml) in the bipolar group and 542 ml (Q1 290, Q3 775) in silk group (p = 0.72). Median drain removal day was 5 in each bipolar and silk group with Q1 and Q3 being 5 days in each arm (p = 0.95). A total of five patients (8.62%) developed symptomatic lymphocele, two (7.1%) in the bipolar group, and three (10%) in the silk ligation group, but the difference was not statistically significant. In univariate analysis, double renal arteries in the donor's kidney (p = 0.03) and graft rejection (p = 0.04) were risk factors for the development of lymphatic complications. However, in multivariable analysis, these factors were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find any significant differences in lymphatic complications between bipolar vessel sealing system and silk ligation. However, large sample multi-centric studies should be done to add evidences on lymphatic complications differences between these two techniques. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000039354, Date of registration-2020, Feb 01.

Combination of Lymph Node Embolization and Musculocutaneous Flap Operation for Managing Groin Lymphorrhea.

Lymphorrhea complications are common following femoral exposure for endovascular procedures. In patients unresponsive to either non-operative or operative therapy, treatment can be complicated. A 86-year-old male patient experienced lymphorrhea after stent graft to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and five operative debridement attempts failed. Intranodal lymphangiography revealed leakage points from two lymph nodes directly into the wound, which were resolved by lymph node embolization using glue. Because the wound was large, a pedicled anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) operation was indicated. Percutaneous lymph node embolization combined with ALT operation may be effective for patients with large wounds and high-flow lymphatic leaks.

Hepatic lymphorrhea following pancreaticoduodenectomy: Preliminary diagnosis and treatment experience from case series of four patients.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic lymphorrhea (HL) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening type of postoperative lymphatic leakage, especially following pancreaticoduodenectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: We herein report a case series of four patients with HL following pancreaticoduodenectomy that presented to the department with a severe clinical picture with the discovery in imaging and intraperitoneal fluid's tests. All our patients presented with a condition of Hepatic lymphorrhea secondary to pancreaticoduodenectomy, which were treated successfully with percutaneous hepatic lymphangiography (HLG). DISCUSSION: Hepatic lymphorrhea is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Periportal lymphatic vessels, which was often isolated and dissected especially with extended lymphadenectomy, is potentially damaged and caused resistant chylous leakage. Newly techniques are updated and applied in diagnosis and treatment for this difficult-to-treat complication, one of them is percutaneous Hepatic Lymphangiography (HLG). CONCLUSION: HLG with percutaneous access could be effective to identify and terminate the chylous fistula from periportal lymphatic vessels after pancreaticoduodenectomy.