Treatment of lymphostasis of the extremities using lymphovenous shunting technology

Dear friends! Today we will talk about very important method of treating limb lymphostasis, which is used at the A.Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre, – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. We will talk about lymphovenous shunting.

Unfortunately, the problem of developing lymphostasis of the extremities is most often encountered by patients after surgical and/or radiation treatment of breast cancer and, less often, by patients after treatment of pelvic tumors.

Lymphostasis is a disease that leads to disruption of lymph outflow and, as a result, swelling of the limbs. The quality of life of such patients decreases sharply, and in more advanced forms it causes pain and discomfort; patients may suffer from episodes of erysipelas, which, in turn, contributes to a further increase in edema. Ultimately, without treatment, patients are faced with impaired limb function – the so-called “elephantiasis”.

-Like any disease, lymphostasis requires early treatment,” explains Viktor Pasov, a surgeon at the department of surgical and conservative treatment of radiation injuries with groups of reconstructive plastic surgery and palliative care at the A.Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre.

The main method of treating lymphostasis is conservative treatment – constant wearing of elastic compression hosiery, as well as lymphatic drainage massages, exercise therapy, and magnetic therapy. In the early stages, to achieve stabilization of edema, it is also possible to perform a microsurgical operation – lymphovenous shunting, which is performed under local anesthesia. The essence of the method is that lymphovenous anastomoses are formed in the area of the lymph outflow block – a lymphatic vessel is sutured into a vein of equal diameter, thereby partially releasing lymph into the venous bed and restoring lymph outflow in this area.

To get advice and treatment from specialists from the department of surgical and conservative treatment of radiation injuries with the groups of reconstructive plastic surgery and palliative care of the A.Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre, you need to sign up for a face-to-face consultation through the contact center  8(800) 250-87-00