A Systematic Stepwise Method to Perform a Supermicrosurgical Lymphovenous Anastomosis

Background Lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) has become an increasingly common treatment for patients with extremity lymphedema. In this article, we present our current strategy for patient selection, preoperative planning, and a series of intraoperative clues that may help to perform a supermicrosurgical LVA. Technical considerations are presented using a systematic step-by-step method to make this procedure more reproducible and straightforward. Patients and Methods We conducted a review of patients operated between January 2015 and June 2018 using the aforementioned approach. Data were collected prospectively, and all procedures were performed by the senior author. Preoperative assessment included lymphoscintigraphy, indocyanine green lymphography, noncontrast magnetic resonance lymphography and high-frequency ultrasonography. Lymphovenous anastomosis was decomposed into a sequential 6-step approach considering the main aspects that determine a successful anastomosis. Results Lymphovenous anastomosis was performed in 229 patients, including 677 anastomoses. Median follow-up was 33 months (range, 13–51 months). A median of 3.1 (range, 1–7) LVA were performed on 2.7 (range, 1–6) incision sites per patient. Median time for dissection of lymphatic(s) and vein(s) was 8.7 minutes (1–18 minutes) with a median time of 27.2 minutes (range, 13–51 minutes) for a complete LVA. Lymphatic detection rate was 100% (677 of 677) and vein detection rate was 99.7% (67...
Source: Annals of Plastic Surgery - Category: Cosmetic Surgery Tags: Microsurgery Source Type: research