Clinical Variables Associated with Lymphedema Surgery: Physiologic versus Excisional

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Lymphedema Management
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Surgical options for lymphedema are expanding.
• Understanding patient profiles is crucial for selecting surgical candidates.
• This study analyzes characteristics of patients undergoing lymphedema surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define clinical variables of patients evaluated for lymphedema surgery.
• To identify predictors for surgical candidacy in lymphedema patients.
• To inform patient selection for lymphedema surgical interventions.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study of patients referred for lymphedema (Jan 2016 - Jun 2023).
• Compared patients who underwent lymphedema surgery (physiologic surgery [PS] or excisional surgery [ES]) with those who did not.
• Analyzed patient records and performed between-group comparisons.

Main Results:

• Operative patients had higher BMI and were more likely to have had physical/occupational therapy than nonoperative patients.
• Physiologic surgery (PS) patients were more likely to be White, have lower BMI, longer diagnosis duration, upper extremity lymphedema, and earlier stage disease.
• PS patients had higher rates of prior radiation, previous surgery, and lymphatic intervention near the affected area.

Conclusions:

• Identifying patient characteristics aids in selecting surgical candidates for lymphedema.
• Oncological and surgical history in the affected area may indicate suitability for physiologic surgery (PS).
• This research helps refine patient selection for lymphedema surgical treatments.