Lymphedema of the extremities: prospects of microsurgical treatment

Presented herein is an experience with the treatment of 60 patients with lymphedema of the extremities, who had undergone transplantation of "lymphatic flaps". The treatment success is analyzed in both free microsurgical autotransplantation of tissue complexes (52 patients) containing intact lymphatic structures and in transposition (8 patients). The authors evaluate the potential of radio-nuclide diagnostic techniques for quantification of the effectiveness of surgical treatment. After transplantation and transposition of different types of "lymphatic flaps" good results were obtained in 36 (60%) patients. The prospects of the use of "lymphatic flaps" are assessed from the standpoint of the current concepts related to the surgical treatment of lymphedema of the extremities.