Under a super microscope magnified 40 times, lymphatic vessels are anastomosed with veins to allow the blocked lymphatic fluid in the vessels to circulate and flow back through the veins

Performing lymphatic vein anastomosis under a microscope magnified 40 times

Director Yang Xiaobo said: Once the lymphatic fluid returns smoothly and the edema disappears, this surgical method is like rebuilding an "artificial canal" for lymphatic fluid

Yao Auntie, who has been troubled by lymphedema for nearly 20 years

After undergoing this surgical method for treatment:

On the 6th day after surgery, the "thick" left leg became 3.5cm thinner

Before treatment/On the 6th day after surgery

The effect is significant, and the difference between the legs is getting smaller and smaller

On the 6th day after surgery, the circumference of the left lower limb significantly decreased

The maximum part reaches 3.5cm

After gynecological tumor resection surgery, the left leg becomes thicker and thicker

Aunt Yao, who is 55 years old this year

I was diagnosed with gynecological tumors 20 years ago and underwent tumor resection surgery

In order to reduce the recurrence and metastasis of tumors after surgery, doctors performed lymph node dissection around the lesion, which is also a necessary procedure for this type of surgery

Not long after the tumor resection surgery, Aunt Yao noticed that her left leg was slightly thicker than her right leg. At first, she thought it was because she had gained weight. Despite her beauty, she deliberately controlled her diet. However, the left leg continues to thicken

Aunt Yao's heart skipped a beat and she quickly went to the hospital for examination. The result was that her thickened left leg was not fat, but swollen - lymphedema

It has been almost 20 years since the diagnosis of lymphedema. During this period, although Aunt Yao also received conservative treatment, the effect was not significant

Recently, Aunt Yao's left leg has become even more swollen, with symptoms such as hardening, heaviness, and soreness. In order to seek better treatment, she was introduced to Renji Hospital in Zhengzhou by a friend

Right picture: When Aunt Yao came to the hospital

The condition of the left lower limb

After listening to Aunt Yao's lecture, Director Yang Xiaobo said, "Lymphatic edema is the most common complication after gynecological tumor surgery." After comprehensive evaluation, "Lymphatic Venous Anastomosis (LVA)" was formulated.

Ultra microscopic technology for constructing 'artificial canals' The thinnest part is only 0.3mm

As a key discipline of microsurgery in Henan Province, Zhengzhou Renji Hospital not only leads in microsurgery technology within the province, but also has won multiple awards such as gold medal and team second prize in national level super microsurgery vascular anastomosis competitions

Director Yang Xiaobo said, "Having solid microsurgical suturing technology in Renji is a fundamental skill for every doctor, so we have a unique advantage in developing this technology

Prior to surgery, lymphatic vessels were clearly visualized by injecting indocyanine green (ICG). Subsequently, under a microscope magnified 40 times, matching lymphatic vessels and veins were found for anastomosis, as if building an "artificial canal" for the "blocked" lymphatic fluid

During the operation, two directors used super microscopy technology to construct an "artificial canal" for lymphatic fluid

Throughout the entire surgical process, Director Yang Xiaobo and Director Han Yinggan successfully anastomosed 20 lymphatic vessels for Aunt Yao. The diameter of the thinnest part of the anastomosed lymphatic vessels was only 0.3mm, posing a great challenge to the surgeon's microsurgical suturing technique

After surgery, continue with manual drainage, pressure therapy, and other treatments

After successful surgery, with the assistance of manual drainage and pressure therapy, significant effects were observed, and the difference between the legs became smaller and smaller

Recently, Director Yang Xiaobo conducted a phone follow-up with Aunt Yao and learned that "everything has recovered well and I am very satisfied..." Aunt Yao also shared her happy little actions

She said, "I persisted in doing techniques every day, and my skin on my legs slowly turned white. After taking a shower, my legs and lower limbs didn't turn red anymore. I sneakily tried on high heels, so excited haha. I will continue to work hard and persevere. Thank you, hello doctor

From the short text, we can feel Aunt Yao's immense happiness, full expectations, and longing for beauty

Director Yang said that after a period of recovery, Aunt Yao can wear dresses and high heels freely, and she can look beautiful again

There are more options for the treatment of lymphedema

It is understood that there is currently no specific drug for treating lymphedema, and most conservative therapies are used, but the effect is limited and cannot fundamentally solve the problem

With the development of "Lymphatic Venous Anastomosis (LVA)", patients with lymphedema have more treatment opportunities

In addition, with the assistance of "super microsurgery technology" and "high-power microscope" super magnification, the incision is small, fast and efficient, the treatment is safer, and the effect is very significant

Director Yang Xiaobo said: Normally, about 120ml of lymphatic fluid flows into the veins every hour in a quiet state. If lymphatic fluid is compared to a vehicle, then lymphatic vessels are the road on which the vehicle travels, and performing lymphatic dissection is equivalent to destroying the road on which the vehicle travels; After the destruction of the road, it is inevitable to cause "lymphatic congestion", and "lymphatic vein anastomosis" is to rebuild a road for "lymphatic fluid (vehicle)" to travel smoothly, which is also why the surgical effect is significant

Lymphatic edema is divided into primary and secondary types. Clinically, patients like Yao Mama are not uncommon, and lymphedema after tumor treatment has become the main cause of secondary lymphedema

And lymphedema is a highly disabling disease. In the World Health Organization's ranking of common diseases, lymphedema ranks 11th, and disability related diseases rank 2nd

Lymphatic edema, a highly disabling disease

Lymphatic Edema: Knowledge Popularization

01 Vulnerable population

Have a family history of lymphedema inheritance

After radical surgery for malignant tumors

Malignant tumor lymph node metastasis

Radiotherapy for breast, axillary lymph nodes, supraclavicular lymph nodes, and inguinal and femoral lymph nodes

02 Installment

Phase 0 (Hidden Period):

The lymphatic vessels have suffered some damage but it is not yet obvious, and their transport capacity is sufficient to cope with the transferred lymphatic fluid. Lymphatic edema did not appear.

Phase 1 (spontaneous reversible phase):

The tissue is still in the concave phase: when pressed with fingers, the tissue retracts and then reverses its elevation for recovery. Usually, when waking up in the morning, the size of the limbs or affected area is normal or almost normal.

Phase 2 (spontaneous irreversible phase):

At this point, the organization exhibits sponge like consistency and is considered non depressed: when pressed by fingers, the affected area rebounds without indentation. This phase of fibrosis marks the beginning of limb sclerosis and an increase in size.

Stage 3 (lymphatic retention elephantiasis stage):

Swelling during this period is irreversible, usually with significant enlargement of the limbs or affected areas. The tissue becomes hard (fibrotic) and the response is slow.

Manifested as thickening of the skin, excessive keratinization and roughness of the surface, hard as elephant skin, and even wart like hyperplasia, lymphatic fistula or ulcer, extreme thickening of the limbs, forming "elephant skin swelling".

Director Yang Xiaobo · Warm Reminder

Lymphatic edema is a progressive disease. In the early stages, there is a feeling of tightness in the skin, heaviness in the limbs, and swelling in the limbs; Late stage: can cause skin thickening, pigmentation, skin itching, skin ulcers, etc; Late stage: can transform into malignant lesions

Patients troubled by lymphedema should seek medical attention and receive active treatment as soon as possible to avoid further worsening and affecting their normal living conditions