Carl HM, Walia G, Bello R, Clarke-Pearson E, Hassanein AH, Cho B, Pedreira R, Sacks JM, et al.
Journal of reconstructive microsurgery. Date of publication 2017 Jul 1;volume 33(6):412-425.
1. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2017 Jul;33(6):412-425. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1599100. Epub
2017 Feb 24.
Systematic Review of the Surgical Treatment of Extremity Lymphedema.
Carl HM(1), Walia G(1), Bello R(1), Clarke-Pearson E(1), Hassanein AH(1), Cho
B(1), Pedreira R(1), Sacks JM(1).
Author information:
(1)Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Background Although conservative management of lymphedema remains the first-line
approach, surgery is effective in select patients. The purpose of this study was
to review the literature and develop a treatment algorithm based on the highest
quality lymphedema research. Methods A systematic literature review was performed
to examine the surgical treatments for lymphedema. Studies were categorized into
five groups describing excision, liposuction, lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA),
vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT), and combined/multiple approaches.
Studies were scored for methodological quality using the methodological index for
nonrandomized studies (MINORS) scoring system. Results A total of 69 articles met
inclusion criteria and were assigned MINORS scores with a maximum score of 16 or
24 for noncomparative or comparative studies, respectively. The average MINORS
scores using noncomparative criteria were 12.1 for excision, 13.2 for
liposuction, 12.6 for LVA, 13.1 for VLNT, and 13.5 for combined/multiple
approaches. Loss to follow-up was the most common cause of low scores.
Thirty-nine studies scoring > 12/16 or > 19/24 were considered high quality. In
studies measuring excess volume reduction, the mean reduction was 96.6% (95%
confidence interval [CI]: 86.2-107%) for liposuction, 33.1% (95% CI: 14.4-51.9%)
for LVA, and 26.4% (95% CI: - 7.98 to 60.8%) for VLNT. Included excision articles
did not report excess volume reduction. Conclusion Although the overall quality
of lymphedema literature is fair, the MINORS scoring system is an effective
method to isolate high-quality studies. These studies were used to develop an
evidence-based algorithm to guide clinical practice. Further studies with a
particular focus on patient follow-up will improve the validity of lymphedema
surgery research.
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1599100
PMID: 28235214 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
Conflict of interest statement: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of
interest in this work.
