Objective
To analyze the effects of lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) surgery after 1 year using the elastic index (EI) and volume.
Methods
This study was a retrospective study of 41 patients, with lymphedema, who underwent LVA surgery between July 2018 and June 2020. Limb circumference, used to determine the volume of the limb with lymphedema, and EI, which reflects tissue stiffness and measured using ultrasonography were measured for each patient before and 1 year after LVA surgery. To examine the effect of LVA, differences in the preoperative and 1-year postoperative volumes and EIs were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results
The mean volume and EI of the dominant site in upper-extremity lymphedema were 2,309.4 cm³ and 1.4, respectively, preoperatively and 2,237.1 cm³ and 0.9, respectively, at 1 year postoperatively. The mean volume and EI difference of the dominant site 1 year after surgery was -16.6 cm³ (p=0.22) and -0.5 (p<0.001). The mean volume and EI of dominant site in lower-extremity lymphedema were 6,137.0 cm³ and 1.2, respectively, preoperatively, and 5,832.6 cm³ and 1.1, respectively, at 1 year postoperatively. The mean volume and EI difference of the dominant site 1 year postoperatively were -320.9 cm³ (p=0.04) and -0.2 (p=0.09), respectively.
Conclusion
LVA surgery is more effective in reducing pressure than in reducing volume, which may be helpful in preventing the progression of lymphedema.

Citations

• Beyond volume reduction: Systematic review and meta-analysis of microsurgical treatment of lymphedema
  C. Zurfluh, H. Ullmann, W.S. Tung, L. Grünherz, Y. Harder, P. Giovanoli, N. Lindenblatt
  Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.2025; 111: 272.     CrossRef
• Microsurgical treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema under contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance: a case report and literature review
  Qiuchan Zhao, Xing Huang, Weizhang Chen, Yi Xiao, Jialing Zhang, Yujun Liu, Rongkang Liang, Zhongzeng Liang
  Frontiers in Oncology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef