Volume 44, Issue 1 e31002
CASE REPORT

Intra-lymphocele microsurgical identification of causative afferent vessels for effective lymphaticovenular anastomosis in lymphocele treatment: A case report

Kohei Mitsui MD

Kohei Mitsui MD

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan

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Mitsunaga Narushima MD

Corresponding Author

Mitsunaga Narushima MD

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan

Correspondence

Mitsunaga Narushima, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, Japan.

Email: [email protected]

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Kanako Danno MD

Kanako Danno MD

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan

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Ryohei Ishiura MD

Ryohei Ishiura MD

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan

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Chihena H. Banda MD

Chihena H. Banda MD

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan

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First published: 26 December 2022

Abstract

Lymphoceles are an important complication of pelvic and abdominal surgery with a reported incidence of 11%–88%. Conventional treatment includes compression, puncture aspiration, sclerotherapy, and ligation but recurrence is not uncommon and is difficult to treat. Recently, microsurgical lymphaticolymphatic anastomosis, lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) and reconstruction of lymphatic circulation with flaps are increasingly being utilized for lymphocele treatment. Effective microsurgical treatment requires precise identification of the causative afferent vessels for the most efficient circulatory by-pass. However, direct identification of these vessels using traditional lymphoscintigraphy and near infrared lymphography is challenging and often not possible. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman who presented with bilateral inguinal lymphoceles and lymphedema following pelvic surgery for vulvovaginal cancer. Bilateral multiple LVAs of the lower extremities were performed and the lower limb circumferences reduced postoperatively, however both lymphoceles still persisted. The patient was successfully treated by approaching the lymphoceles from inside the lymphocele cavity. The causative afferent lymph vessels were directly identified microsurgically by gentle pressure on the inner wall and causative afferent lymph vessel lymphaticovenular anastomosis was performed. The lymphoceles resolved promptly after surgery without complications, and no recurrence was observed on 5 years follow-up. This case report presents an innovative microsurgical approach to lymphocele treatment, including examination and techniques to identify the causative afferent lymphatic vessels for effective anastomosis. We report this case to demonstrate the importance of lymphatic vessel selection in the microsurgical treatment of lymphocele.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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