Vascularized free lymph node flap transfer in advanced lymphedema patient after axillary lymph node dissection
Hyung Min Hahn, Nonhyun Ha, Myong Chul Park and II Jae Lee
Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea
: J Regen Med
Abstract
Lymphedema is a condition characterized by tissue swelling caused by localized fluid retention. Advanced lymphedema is characterized by irreversible skin fibrosis (stage IIIb) and non¬pitting edema, with leather-like skin, skin crypts, and ulcers with or without involvement of the toes (stage IVa and IVb, respectively). Recently, surgical treatment of advanced lymphedema has been a challenging reconstructive modality. Microvascular techniques such as lymphaticovenous anastomosis and vascularized lymph node flap transfer are effective for early stage lymphedema. In this study, we performed a two-stage operation in an advanced lymphedema patient. First, a debulking procedure was per¬formed using liposuction. A vascularized free lymph node flap transfer was then conducted 10 weeks after the first operation. In this case, good results were obtained, with reduced circum¬ferences in various parts of the upper extremity noted immedi¬ately postoperation.
Biography
Hyung Min Hahn has completed his MD program from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. He is a professor of Ajou University, Suwon, Korea. He has many experiences in breast reconstruction and has been serving as an editorial member of archives of plastic surgery.
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