Modern surgical treatments for lymphedema.
Kearns M., Kauhanen S., Mani M.
Narrative Review, published in Scand J Surg (2024) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Narrative Review
- Journal
- Scand J Surg (2024)
- Country
- England
- Reported sample size
- —
- Source database
- PubMed
- PMID
- 39629817
- DOI
- 10.1177/14574969241300101
Abstract (original English)
Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system is malformed, leaking or is damaged by infection or cancer treatment. Enlarged extremities due to extensive fluid retention and adipose tissue deposition, recurrent cellulitis, and the requirement for hard-to-wear compression garments lead to impaired limb function and decreased quality of life. This narrative review aims to elucidate classification, diagnostic tools, and conservative management strategies leading the path to patient selection for microsurgical reconstructive procedures or volume reduction procedures. The surgical approaches include reconstructive procedures such as lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) and lymph node transfer and reductive procedures, mainly liposuction and occasionally excisional surgery. Comparing the efficacy of lymphedema surgeries is fully dependent on standardized and reproducible outcome measures. A growing body of knowledge has evolved pointing to the benefits of reconstructive microsurgery of the lymphatic system with or without surgical volume reduction. Tissue engineering and stem cell research leads the way for new approaches. However, several questions remain emphasizing the research needs. Ongoing multicentre trials aiming to elucidate the efficacy and accessibility of surgical treatments for this condition are on their way.
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • This is a narrative review: it collects no new patient data and does not systematically appraise evidence quality.
Evidence level
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
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