Travis, E.C., Shugg, S., & McEwan, W.M. (2015). Lymph node grafting in the treatment of upper limb lymphoedema: A clinical trial. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 85, 631–635.
To explore the safety and efficacy of simple lymph node grafting
The lymph node grafting procedure was performed in a day-surgery setting with local anesthetic infiltration at the donor site (groin) and the two recipient sites (wrist and supratrochlear area). A small dose of intravenous ketamine or midazolam was given as sedation. The nodes were grafted into the superficial soft tissue of the affected limb. Subcuticular absorbable sutures were used to close the wounds. Patients did not use their regular compressive therapy for the first six weeks postoperatively so as not to compress the superficial vessels supplying the graft. Each patient received five days of oral flucloxacillin (250 mg every eight hours) as prophylaxis against opportunistic infection.
Prospective, interventional study with repeated measures at two, six, and 12 weeks
Lymph node grafting is was a safe procedure and should be investigated as an alternative to a microsurgical procedure as treatment for upper limb lymphedema.
Lymph node grafting needs to be investigated. Nurses should advise patients according to the current evidence.