Lymphatic System Reflux After Lymphatic Operation

Influence of Lymphatic System Reflux After Operation in Patients With Lymphatic Disease

This study aimed to determine the impact on outcomes when recipient veins with reflux were used for LVA for the treatment of unilateral lower limb lymphedema.

The use of recipient veins with reflux for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) is discouraged because of the common belief that it may lead to venous-lymphatic reflux (VLR), a phenomenon in which venous blood is refluxed into the lymphatic lumen after anastomosis, which can lower the long-term patency rate. However, this concept has yet to be validated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• This study including patients diagnosed with lymphatic-related diseases at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from October 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022.
• Patients who underwent LVA for unilateral lower-limb lymphedema.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients under the age of 20.
• Patients lost to follow-up or with incomplete data.