Prevention and Treatment of Lymphatic Fistulae Following Lymph Node Dissections by Means of Fibrin Sealing

Abstract

Lymph node dissections in the inguinal or axillary regions and after vascular procedures are frequently complicated by lymphoceles or lymphatic fistulae even under the most optimal operative conditions. Such lymphatic fistulae appear mainly after radical lymphodenectomies in the surgical treatment of carcinomas (breast carcinoma, melanoma, soft-tissue sarcoma). According to a report by Tonak et al. [3], an incidence of 15%–43% must be considered; the inguinal region is afflicted more frequently. This complication, although uncomfortable, does not carry any immediate danger to the patient. However, in the long run, there is an increased risk of infection [1, 3, 4].