Combined Liposuction and Physiologic Treatment Achieves Durable Limb Volume Normalization in Class II-III Lymphedema: A Treatment Algorithm to Optimize Outcomes

Introduction: Outcomes of surgical lymphedema treatment are currently suboptimal. Physiologic procedures including lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) and vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) reestablish lymphatic flow but cannot correct fibroadipose deposition, whereas liposuction alone cannot prevent disease progression. We propose a treatment algorithm combining liposuction with LVA or VLNT that can achieve normal limb volumes and prevent disease progression in stage II-III lymphedema.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing liposuction and physiologic lymphedema operations at our institution between January 2016 and June 2019. Patients were assigned to treatment groups according to their clinical presentation: physiologic first, followed by no further treatment (physiologic only) or liposuction (physiologic then liposuction); liposuction then physiologic; or simultaneous. Preoperative patient characteristics and sequence of operations were recorded. Compression garment usage was self-reported. Limb volumes were approximated as a truncated cone.

Results: Twenty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. The liposuction then physiologic group had significantly higher stage and excess limb volume at baseline, whereas the physiologic first groups had lower excess volume. While the physiologic only group had predominantly stage I disease, the patients who later required liposuction (physiologic then liposuction group) all had stage II disease. All groups achieved 82% to 106% mean excess volume reduction, and volume reduction was maintained for up to 2.4 years. Compression garment class was not reduced, but mean postoperative compression duration decreased from 12.5 to 7.5 h/d (P = 0.003). Ten of 11 patients with history of cellulitis had no further recurrence.

Conclusion: Lymphedema represents a continuum of fluid and fibroadipose disease. Accurate staging and timely treatment with physiologic procedures and liposuction can normalize limb volume. We propose a treatment algorithm to optimize outcomes. Patients with predominantly nonpitting presentation benefit from liposuction to maximize removal of fibroadipose tissue and optimize postoperative compression, followed by LVA or VLNT to improve lymphatic drainage. Patients with primarily pitting edema are best treated with physiologic procedures initially, reserving selective liposuction as a second stage. Patients with mixed presentation are best served by single-stage combination procedures.