Kanth AM, Krevalin M, Adetayo OA, Patel A, et al.
Journal of reconstructive microsurgery. Date of publication 2019 Feb 27;volume ():.
1. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2019 Feb 27. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1681068. [Epub ahead of
print]
Surgical Management of Pediatric Lymphedema: A Systematic Review.
Kanth AM(1), Krevalin M(1), Adetayo OA(1), Patel A(1).
Author information:
(1)Division of Plastic Surgery, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York.
INTRODUCTION: Lymphedema is a rare, progressive, and debilitating condition
caused by failure of the lymphatic system to adequately drain the protein-rich
fluid exiting the capillaries. Conservative management is often emphasized in
pediatric patients, resulting in a paucity of literature describing surgical
treatment in this population.
METHODS: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and
Google Scholar to identify all studies describing surgical management of
lymphedema in the pediatric population.
RESULTS: Of the 343 relevant articles identified, 14 met the criteria for full
review. Articles were divided into the following treatment categories: genital
lymphedema, excisional procedures for extremity lymphedema, and physiologic
procedures for extremity lymphedema. Outcomes for genital lymphedema were overall
positive. For extremity lymphedema, excisional procedures yielded good results
overall and included the majority of patients in this study. Physiologic
procedures had mixed outcomes in the small population included in this study, but
definitive conclusions cannot be drawn due to the paucity of existing data.
CONCLUSION: While conservative management of pediatric lymphedema is well
described, the literature remains sparse regarding surgical treatment. Further
studies are needed to evaluate efficacy and outcomes in all three categories in
this population.
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1681068
PMID: 30812039
Conflict of interest statement: Aditi M. Kanth, Max Krevalin, Oluwaseun Adetayo,
and Ashit Patel declare that they have no conflict of interest. All authors have
participated in the research leading to the results presented in this manuscript
and assure that the manuscript is not under simultaneous consideration by any
other journal.
