Lymphedema Duration on Lymphatic Vessel Quality and Outcomes After LVA

Chang Gung Medical Foundation

Status: Completed

Conditions: Lymphedema

Treatments: Procedure: lymphaticovenous anastomosis

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06323200

202400221B0

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aimed to address the impact of lymphedema duration on the quality of lymphatic vessels as well as the outcome after LVA using propensity score matching.

Full description

With an increase in the incidence and treatment of breast and gynecological cancers, an increase in the prevalence of secondary lymphedema has been witnessed1. As a consequence of lymphadenectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy, swollen limbs result from the accumulation of protein rich fluid2. Lymphedema is predicted to arise in 20-40% of patients with cervical and breast cancer3, which is a chronic disease that can significantly hamper quality of life4-6. Affected limbs may suffer from lifelong swelling with functional impairment and repeated cellulitis, and some may eventually progress to late-stage diseases such as elephantiasis and lymphorrhea7-9.

Supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) is a well-documented minimally invasive treatment modality that bypasses lymph into the venous system to alleviate lymphedema10-14. It was a common belief that a longer lymphedema duration (LD) may be associated with inferior lymphatic vessel (LVs) quality, as well as excess fibrous components in the affected limbs, which are characteristics of advanced lymphedema. Consequently, owing to inferior LV quality, LVA is considered unsuitable for advanced cases; instead, vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) or excisional procedures are recommended7,15.

However, growing evidence has demonstrated the effectiveness of LVA for the treatment of severe lymphedema16-19. These findings, contrary to common beliefs, raise questions regarding the association between LD, LV quality, and outcomes after LVA. This study aimed to address the impact of LD on the quality of LV as well as the outcome after LVA using propensity score matching.

Enrollment: 189 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 100 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• This study including patients diagnosed with lymphatic-related diseases at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from September 2015 to March 2023.

Patients who underwent LVA for unilateral lower-limb lymphedema.

Exclusion criteria

• Primary lymphedema, bilateral lower limb lymphedema, history of previous LVA, vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT), liposuction, or excisional therapy such as the Charles procedure, and those that were lost to follow-up.

Trial design

189 participants in 2 patient groups

Lymphedema duration > 3.6 years

Treatment:

Procedure: lymphaticovenous anastomosis

Lymphedema duration ≤ 3.6 years

Treatment:

Procedure: lymphaticovenous anastomosis