Lymphovenous Anastomosis for Morbidly Obese Patients with Lymphedema

Overview

Journal Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2020 Nov 2

PMID 33133910

Citations 9

Authors

Shuhei Yoshida

Isao Koshima

Hirofumi Imai

Toshio Uchiki

Ayano Sasaki

Yumio Fujioka

Shogo Nagamatsu

Kazunori Yokota

Shuji Yamashita

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Methods: Twenty-two patients (44 edematous lower limbs) with a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m (obese group) and 91 patients with lymphedema (141 edematous lower limbs) and BMI <25 kg/m were enrolled as a control group (nonobese group) and underwent LVA. The diameter and depth of lymphatics and the effect of LVA were compared.

Results: Lymphatics were detectable within 10-mm depth in the nonobese group and the obese group (3.0 ± 1.4 mm versus 3.5 ± 2.1 mm; < 0.01). The lymphatic diameter was significantly greater in the obese group than in the nonobese group (0.79 ± 0.30 mm versus 0.54 ± 0.22 mm; < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the rate of improvement in lymphedema after LVA between the nonobese group (9.1% ± 9.2%) and the obese group (8.9% ± 7.3%; = 0.84). There was no correlation between the improvement rate of lymphedema and that of BMI in the obese group ( = 0.57).

Conclusions: LVA is a feasible procedure even in morbidly obese patients. Considering that substantial weight loss is a difficult and time-consuming task for patients, LVA combined with not gaining weight is a good option for these patients.

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