[Surgical treatment of lymphoedema (author's transl)]

Aetiology, pathogenesis, staging and the conservative and operative treatment of the lymphoedema are discussed. Only in 14 to 22% of all lymphoedema an operative treatment is required. Operative treatment is only indicated after the failure of conservative treatment. The latent (stage I) and the reversible (stage II) lymphoedema rarely demand an operation. Only the lymphovenous shunts or lymphadenovenous shunts may be indicated in stage II. In the irreversible lymphoedema (stage III) and in the elephantiasis (stage IV) the following operations have been developed: ligature of ectatic lymphtrunks, peripheral lymphovenous and lymphadenovenous shunts, skin-flap transplantations, free or pediculated transplantation of the greater omentum, lymphangioplastic operations (Thompson-operation) or excisional operations (Servelle-operation). The therapeutic principles of these operations are shown and late results are discussed.