A head-to-head comparison among donor site morbidity after vascularized lymph node transfer: Pearls and pitfalls of a 6-year single center experience

Pedro Ciudad; Oscar J Manrique; Shivprasad Date; Bulent Sacak; Wei-Ling Chang; Kidakorn Kiranantawat; Seong Yoon Lim; Hung-Chi Chen

doi:10.1002/jso.24349

A head-to-head comparison among donor site morbidity after vascularized lymph node transfer: Pearls and pitfalls of a 6-year single center experience

J Surg Oncol. 2017 Jan;115(1):37-42. doi: 10.1002/jso.24349. Epub 2016 Jul 20.

Authors

Pedro Ciudad¹, Oscar J Manrique¹, Shivprasad Date¹, Bulent Sacak¹, Wei-Ling Chang¹, Kidakorn Kiranantawat¹, Seong Yoon Lim¹, Hung-Chi Chen¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

PMID: 27440739
DOI: 10.1002/jso.24349

Abstract

Between 2010 and 2016, 110 patients with extremity lymphedema underwent vascularized lymph node (VLN) transfer: groin (G-VLN = 20), supraclavicular (SC-VLN = 54), and right gastroepiploic (RGE-VLN = 36) open and laparoscopic approach. Herein, we discuss the pearls and pitfalls for VLN harvest and compare donor site morbidity and complications. Lymphatic leakage: G-VLN (n = 1) and SC-VLN (n = 1) and one hematoma: SC-VLN were found. Laparoscopic harvest of the RGE-VLN reduces donor site morbidity. However, surgeons experience is imperative to minimize donor site morbidity and complications. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017;115:37-42. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: donor site morbidity; lymph node flap transfer; lymphaticovenous anastomosis; lymphedema; vascularized lymph node transfer.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Arm
Female
Humans
Lymph Nodes / blood supply
Lymph Nodes / pathology
Lymph Nodes / transplantation*
Lymphedema / surgery*
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Surgical Flaps
Transplant Donor Site / pathology*
Young Adult