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CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2021; 48(03): 333-335
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2019.01004
Extremity/Lymphedema
Case Report

Postoperative care after lymphaticovenous anastomosis

Jeffrey C.Y. Chan 
Department of Plastic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
,
Giuseppe Di Taranto 
Department of Plastic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Umberto I University Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
,
Rossella Elia 
Department of Plastic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
,
Vittoria Amorosi 
Department of Plastic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
Plastic Surgery Unit, Sant’Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
,
Ngamcherd Sitpahul 
Department of Plastic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Hung-Chi Chen 
Department of Plastic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
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In this report, we discuss the postoperative protocol for patients undergoing lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) in our unit. Immediately after LVA, the incision site is closed over a small Penrose drain and a simple gauze dressing is applied without compression. In the first 5 days, ambulation is allowed, but limb elevation is actively encouraged to promote lymphatic flow across the newly formed anastomosis. Prophylactic antibiotics are routinely given to prevent infection because this patient group is susceptible to infections, which could trigger thrombosis in the anastomosis.

Keywords

Lymphaticovenous anastomosis - Lymphedema - Postoperative care - Compression


Publication History

Received: 30 July 2019

Accepted: 08 July 2020

Article published online:
21 March 2022

© 2021. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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