Background

Lymphedema, refractory to non-operative methods [1], may be managed by surgical treatment. Indications include insufficient lymphedema reduction by well performed medical and physical therapy (less than 50%), recurrent episodes of lymphangitis, intractable pain, worsening limb function, patient unsatisfied of the results obtained by non-operative methods and willing to proceed with surgical options. In this study Authors report a new lymphedema staging and their wide clinical experience in the microsurgical treatment of peripheral lymphedema [2, 3] in geriatric age.

Materials and methods

More than 500 patients with peripheral lymphedema in geriatrics have been treated with microsurgical techniques. Derivative lymphatic micro-vascular procedures recognize today its most exemplary application in multiple lymphatic-venous anastomoses (LVA). In the case of associated venous disease reconstructive lymphatic microsurgery techniques have been developed. Objective assessment was undertaken by water volumetry and lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphedema staging is reported in Table 1.

Table 1
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Results

Subjective improvement was noted in 87% of patients. Objectively, volume changes showed a significant improvement in 83%, with an average reduction of 67% of the excess volume (Figure 1). Of those patients followed-up, 85% have been able to discontinue the use of conservative measures, with an average follow-up of more than 10 years and average reduction in excess volume of 69%. There was a 87% reduction in the incidence of cellulitis after microsurgery.

Figure 1
figure 1

Breast cancer related lymphedema before (A) and long term after (C) microsurgical lymphatic-venous anastomoses (B).

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Conclusions

Microsurgical lymphatic-venous anastomoses have a place in the treatment of peripheral lymphedema in geriatrics especially in early stages, and should be the therapy of choice in patients who are not sufficiently responsive to nonsurgical treatment.