Secondary Lymphedema: Clinical Interdisciplinary Tricks to Overcome an Intriguing Disease

Abstract

Secondary lymphedema is a complex pathology which is very impairing to the patient, consisting of fluid accumulation in the tissue, accompanied by alteration of the interstitial fibrous tissue matrix, deposition of cellular debris and local inflammation. It develops mostly in limbs and/or external genitals because of demolishing oncological surgery with excision of local lymph nodes, or it may depend upon inflammatory or infective diseases, trauma, or congenital vascular malformation. Its treatment foresees various approaches, from simple postural attitude to physical therapy, to minimally invasive lymphatic microsurgery. This review focuses on the different types of evolving peripheral lymphedema and describes potential solutions to single objective symptoms. Particular attention is paid to the newest lymphatic microsurgical approaches, such as lymphatic grafting and lympho-venous shunt application, to successfully heal, in the long term, serious cases of secondary lymphedema of limbs or external genitals. The presented data also emphasize the potential role of minimally invasive microsurgery in enhancing the development of newly formed lymphatic meshes, focusing on the need for further accurate research in the development of microsurgical approaches to the lymphatic vascular system.