Talarico F, Brunetto D, Scialabba M, Pernice I, Valenti G, Benvegna S, Mastrandrea G, Rusignuolo F, et al.
Lymphology. Date of publication 1991 Mar 1;volume 24(1):11-5.
1. Lymphology. 1991 Mar;24(1):11-5.
Fibrosclerotic lymphedema: pathophysiology and therapy.
Talarico F(1), Brunetto D, Scialabba M, Pernice I, Valenti G, Benvegna S,
Mastrandrea G, Rusignuolo F.
Author information:
(1)Department of Surgery and Anatomy, University of Palermo, Italy.
We describe our experience with 12 patients with severe fibrotic lymphedema
treated between 1979 and 1987. Each patient initially underwent nonoperative
treatment (postural drainage and pneumatic compression) and in 10 patients who
required operation, these measures were continued postoperatively. Operation
included excision of subcutaneous tissue (debulking), which was extensive in 8
and limited in 2 patients. Only 2 patients were satisfactorily managed by
nonoperative treatment alone. Based on the extensive pathophysiologic changes
that occur in the tissue microenvironment with lymph stasis, it is unlikely that
at this advanced stage of lymphedema that nonoperative treatment alone or
"physiologic" operations such as lymphatic-venous shunt or lymphatic collector
reconstruction is satisfactory. Rather, nearly all such patients require limited
or extensive excision of the fibrotic-edematous subcutaneous tissue.
PMID: 2051780 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
