Treatment of Lymphatic Complications after Common Femoral Artery Endarterectomy

This study analyzes the outcome of lymphatic complications after a standard vascular procedure.

This is a retrospective study including patients who had a lymphatic complication after endarterectomy and patch of the common femoral artery in our clinic between March 2007 and June 2018. Therapy of choice was selected according to wound situation and amount of lymphatic liquid. If signs of a wound infection occurred, a surgical therapy was performed; in all other cases a nonsurgical treatment (conservative treatment, radiotherapy) was chosen.

We performed 977 index operations, a lymphatic complication occurred in 112 cases (11.5%). In 69 cases the lymphatic complication presented as lymphatic fistula (Group 1), in 43 cases as lymphorrhea from the wound (Group 2). Nonsurgical treatment was done in 66 cases (Group 1: 76.8% vs. Group 2: 30.2%; P < 0.000), and a surgical treatment was necessary in 46 cases (Group 1: 23.2% vs. Group 2: 69.8%; P < 0.000). Indication for surgery was Szilagyi 1 infection in 25 cases, Szilagyi 2 infection in 11 cases, and Szilagyi 3 infection in 10 cases. Patients with Szilagyi 1 infections received negative wound pressure therapy (NWPT). A muscle flap in combination with an NWPT was performed in patients with Szilagyi 2 infections. In Szilagyi 3 infections, the patch was replaced; additionally, a muscle flap and an NWPT were performed. The median hospital stay was 13 days in the nonsurgical group and 22.5 days in the surgical group. We had no bleeding complications and no reinfection during follow-up. The median observation period was 23.0 months. Age ≥80 years was associated with an increased risk for lymphatic complications.

The therapy of lymphatic complications should be done in accordance with clinical symptoms. A nonsurgical treatment is often sufficient. However, in cases of a wound infection different surgical treatments are necessary.