[Lymphatico-venous experimental anastomosis (author's transl)]

Since the pioneer work of Nielubowicz et Olszewski successful anastomoses have been caried out between lymphnodes and veins in experiments and in the clinic as well. The creation of patent anastomoses between lymphatic trunks and veins still present many problems, primarily due to the small size of the lymphatic vessels. The microsurgical technique permits the authors to overcome these difficulties. End-to-side anastomosis between lymphatic trunk and the superficial femoral vein was carried out - using stereo microscopic - on rabbits, with a modification of Cordeiro's and Degni's technique; a longitudinally divided plastic catheter was introduced into the vein and the lymphatic trunk was pulled into the lumen and fixed to the upper venous wall with one suture. End-to-end anastomosis was created between lymphatic trunk and the superficial femoral vein or one of it's branches with a technique using a small piece of plastic catheter, which was introduced into the lymphatic trunk on one side and to the vein on the other side in order to prevent the transfixation of the vessels wall. Interrupted 11/0 atraumatic sutures were used to create the anastomosis. With both of these methods patent anatomosis can be carried out between lymphatic trunks and veins.