Surgical lymphology. Therapy option for lymphoedema and lipohyperplasia dolorosa

Abstract

SummaryThe typical therapy in lymphology is conservative. However, reconstructive and resective treatments for primary and secondary lymphoedema as well as resective procedures for lipohyperplasia dolorosa (LiDo) “lipedema” have been available for several decades. Each of these procedures has its clear indication and decades of successful history. These therapies represent a paradigm shift in lymphology. In reconstruction, the basic idea is to restore lymph flow, to bypass the obstacle to drainage in the vascular system. The combination procedures of two‐stage application of resection and reconstruction in lymphoedema are just as much a “work in progress” as the concept of prophylactic lymphatic venous anastomosis (LVA).In the case of resective procedures, the focus is not only on improving the silhouette, but also on reducing the complex decongestion therapy (CDT) and – in the case of LiDo – freedom from pain by improving imaging procedures and the early use of surgical therapy options, the development of higher stages of lymphoedema should be a thing of the past. For LiDo, the application of surgical procedures avoids lifelong CDT and achieves painlessness. All surgical procedures, but especially the resection procedures, are now possible in a way that is gentle on the lymphatic vessels and should be offered to patients with lymphoedema or lipohyperplasia dolorosa without reservation if the goals – reduction in circumference, avoidance of lifelong CDT and, in the case of LiDo, painlessness – cannot be achieved by other means.