LymphedemaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Lymphedema
Lymphatic obstruction is a blockage of the lymph vessels that drain fluid from tissues throughout the body and allow immune cells to travel where they are needed. Lymphatic obstruction may cause lymphedema, which means swelling due to a blockage of the lymph passages.
Lymphedema
The most common reason for lymphatic obstruction is the removal or enlargement of the lymph nodes.
Other causes of lymphatic obstruction include:
- Infections with parasites, such as filariasis
- Injury
- Radiation therapy
- Skin infections, such as cellulitis (more common in obese people)
- Surgery
- Tumors
A common cause of lymphedema is removal of the breast (mastectomy) and underarm lymph tissue for breast cancer treatment. This causes lymphedema of the arm in some people, because the lymphatic drainage of the arm passes through the armpit (axilla).
Rare forms of lymphedema that are present from birth (congenital) may result from problems in the development of the lymphatic vessels.
The main symptom is persistent (chronic) swelling, usually of the arm or leg.
Treatment for lymphedema includes:
- Compression (usually with wrapping in bandages or stockings)
- Manual lymph drainage (MLD)
- Range of motion or resistance exercises
Manual lymph drainage is a light massage therapy technique. During the massage, the skin is moved in certain directions based on the structure of the lymphatic system. This helps the lymph fluid drain through the proper channels.
Treatment also includes skin care to prevent injuries, infection, and skin breakdown. Light exercise and movement programs may also be prescribed. Wearing compression garments on the affected area or using a pneumatic compression pump may be helpful. Your provider and physical therapist will decide which compression methods are best.
Surgery is used in some cases, but it has limited success. Your surgeon must have a lot of experience with this type of procedure. You will still need physical therapy after surgery to reduce lymphedema.
Types of surgery include:
- Liposuction
- Removal of abnormal lymphatic tissue
- Transplant of normal lymphatic tissues to areas with abnormal lymphatic drainage (rarely done)
In rare cases, surgery to bypass abnormal lymph tissue using vein grafts is done. These procedures are most effective for early lymphedema and should be performed by an experienced surgeon.
Texas Health Heart, Lung And Vascular Surgical Specialists
Raul Ortega, M.D., is a vascular surgeon who specializes in carotid disease, aortic disease, vein disease, adult cardiac surgery, minimally invasive thoracic surgery and lung cancer screening program. He is fellowship-trained in minimally-invasive techniques for the treatment of arterial and venous disease.Originally from McAllen, Texas, Ortega has dedicated his life to studying vascular disorders and learning how to both prevent and treat them. He attended Baylor University and obtained his M.D. degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Upon finishing in Galveston, he spent the next eight years in the Northeast completing his surgical training.It was during this time that Ortega was able to finish his vascular fellowship under the auspices of the renowned Dr. H. Dardik at Mt. Sinai-Englewood program in Englewood, N.J. Dardik is widely accepted as a leader in the practice of limb salvage surgery, and in 2002 the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dardik in recognition of his contributions to both the society and vascular surgery.It didn't take long for Ortega and his family to realize they missed the friendly people and sense of community in Texas, and in 2010 they relocated and he established his clinic in Denton. Ortega is happy to be involved in the ground-breaking medical field of vascular surgery because he sees the wide array of applications it provides to people in need: it can potentially help save lives by aortic surgery, save limbs through leg and arm revascularization, prevent strokes using carotid surgery, help treat vein disease with various varicose vein treatments, and help people on dialysis by creating arteriovenous fistulas.In his spare time, Ortega enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his wife and three children. Dr. Ortega is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lymphedema. His top areas of expertise are Lymphedema-Distichiasis Syndrome, Aagenaes Syndrome, Milroy Disease, Carotid Artery Surgery, and Endoscopy.
UPMC Magee-Womens Surgical Associates
Atilla Soran, MD, MPH, FACS, FNCBC, is a breast surgical oncologist at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. He specialized in surgical oncology, breast oncology, benign breast lesions, and lymphedema. Dr. Soran is board-certified in general surgery and received a medical degree from the University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey. He completed residencies at St Mary's Hospital, London, England and Ankara Numune Teaching & Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, and a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Soran is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lymphedema. His top areas of expertise are Lymphedema, Breast Cancer, Intraductal Papilloma, Meige Disease, and Mastectomy.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Dhruv Singhal is a Plastic Surgeon in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Singhal is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lymphedema. His top areas of expertise are Lymphedema, Milroy Disease, Meige Disease, Fasciotomy, and Mastectomy.
Lymphedema is a chronic condition that usually requires lifelong management. In some cases, lymphedema improves with time. Some swelling is usually permanent.
In addition to swelling, the most common complications include:
- Chronic wounds and ulcers
- Skin breakdown
- Cancer of the lymph tissue (rare)
Contact your provider if you have swelling of your arms, legs, or lymph nodes that does not respond to treatment or go away.
Most surgeons now use a technique called sentinel lymph node sampling to reduce your risk for lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. However, this technique is not always appropriate or effective.
Summary: The objective of this study is to evaluate the Symani System's safety and effectiveness for microsurgical anastomosis during free tissue transfer surgery and lymphovenous anastomosis surgery. The primary endpoints are: * Effectiveness- Rate of intraoperative anastomosis patency at first attempt. * Safety- Freedom from device-related adverse events. Participants will receive treatment as standard o...
Summary: Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is a novel surgical approach performed at the time of initial lymph node dissection with the goal of preventing lymphedema. It involves the identification of lymphatic channels that are transected after lymph node dissection and microsurgical anastomosis of one or more lymphatic channel with a local recipient vein to re-direct upper extremity lymphatic drai...
Published Date: January 01, 2025
Published By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Jackson KA, Feldman JL, Armer JM. Lymphedema risk reduction and management. In: Cheng MH, Chang DW, Patel KM, eds. Principles and Practice of Lymphedema Surgery. 2nd ed. St Louis, MA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 10.
Rockson SG. Lymphedema: evaluation and decision making. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 167.