Gennaro, P., Gabriele, G., Mihara, M., Kikuchi, K., Salini, C., Aboh, I., . . . Ungari, C. (2016). Supramicrosurgical lymphatico-venular anastomosis (LVA) in treating lymphoedema: 36-months preliminary report. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 20, 4642–4653.
To evaluate the effects of lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) on patients with lymphedema
APPLICATIONS: Pediatrics, elder care
Retrospective
Measuring tape
The LVA appears to successfully establish alternate lymphatic drainage pathways in the lymph damaged limb. It is minimally invasive requiring considerably less surgery than the lymph node transplantation procedures and potentially better outcomes. The patients tolerate it well and recovery quickly. It is unclear whether patients no longer needed to use compression garments, but the study reported that all had a reduction in compression class. The researchers reported outcomes that did reflect disease progression: Stage IV limbs did not improve, as well as stage II.
The findings suggest that LVA may be helpful for patients to reduce lymphedema. Nurses need to be aware of patient education needs if this procedure is used.