[Surgical tactics in post-mastectomy edema of the arm]

Based on examinations and treatment of 210 patients with postmastectomy edema of the extremity (with operations made on 75 of them) the authors have developed a clinico-surgical classification of the postmastectomy edema with special reference to the character of morphologic alterations of soft tissues which determinates tactics of treatment and choice of surgical methods (LVA, phlebolysis of the subclavian vein, RRO or their combination in different succession). Phlebographic and tonometric examinations are shown to be necessary, their findings being compared for the establishment of indications for phlebolysis for stenosis of the vein resulting from X-ray therapy and long stump of the musculus pectoralis minor in radical mastectomy after Holsted.