Long Term Results of Innovative Procedure in Surgical Management of Chronic Lymphedema

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema is the result of impaired lymphatic drainage by the affected organ. This abnormality can be primary or secondary. Different operative approaches have been introduced to treat chronic lymphedema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 816 patients who were diagnosed with chronic lower extremity lymphedema and did not respond to non-operative management for at least six months. Data was collected over 25 years, between March 1987 and March 2013. Doppler ultrasonography of the deep venous system was routinely undertaken in all patients to confirm patency. The patients underwent surgery and their progress was followed for at least one year postoperatively. RESULTS: All patients were operated by the suggested technique and long term fallow-up which is a modified form of the Homan’s technique. The outcome was excellent, and 89.2% of patients were free of complication and 2% had poor results. The most common complication was wound seroma and wound infection. CONCLUSION: The long term results and considering the difficulties associated with the treatment of chronic lymphedema and the variety of surgical options, our method achieved excellent results, and may be proposed for the standard operative procedure for treating intractable forms of this disease.