Lymphovenous anastomosis for the treatment of lymphedema: A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. 2020

E Nacchiero, and M Maruccia, and R Elia, and F Robusto, and Gianluca Giudice, and O J Manrique, and C C Campisi, and Giuseppe Giudice
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) has been described as an effective treatment for early stages of lymphedema (LE). The aim of this study was to deepen the evaluation of the effectiveness of LVA by performing a metaanalysis to provide information about its utility in specific anatomical sites, clinical stages, duration of lymphedema, and surgical technique. A systematic literature search using PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database was performed in November 2019. Only original studies in which exclusively LVA was performed for primary and/or secondary lymphedema in humans were eligible for data extraction. A meta-analysis was performed on articles with a well-defined endpoint and a subgroup analysis was conducted in relation to surgical technique, duration of lymphedema, stage of pathology. Forty-eight studies, including 6 clinical trials and 42 lowrisk bias observational studies were included in our meta-analysis. 1,281 subjects were included and the majority of articles reported a pre-post analysis. Lymphaticovenular anastomosis appears to result effectively in treatment of lymphedema with an odds ratio of 0.07 (CI: 0.04, 0.13, p<0.001). All subgroup metaanalyses were statistically significant for LVAs specifically with regard to anatomical site, clinical stage, duration of LE, or type of microsurgical procedure (p<0.05). Our meta-analysis confirmed the efficacy of LVAs for the treatment of lymphedema, even when subgroup analysis was performed for clinical stage, duration of pathology, anatomical site of lymphedema, or type of microsurgical procedure. Further prospective trials with a common clearly defined outcome measure are warranted for an unbiased evaluation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008208 Lymphatic System A system of organs and tissues that process and transport immune cells and LYMPH. Lymphatic Systems
D008209 Lymphedema Edema due to obstruction of lymph vessels or disorders of the lymph nodes. Milroy's Disease,Congenital Familial Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedema,Early Onset Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema 1,Hereditary Lymphedema Type I,Lymphedema, Early-Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary, Ia,Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne-Milroy-Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedemas,Congenital Lymphedema, Primary,Congenital Lymphedemas, Primary,Early Onset Lymphedemas,Early-Onset Lymphedema,Early-Onset Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedema 1s,Hereditary Lymphedema, Congenital,Hereditary Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedemas, Congenital,Lymphedema, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedema, Early Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary,Lymphedema, Nonne-Milroy,Lymphedema, Primary Congenital,Lymphedemas,Lymphedemas, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Early Onset,Lymphedemas, Early-Onset,Lymphedemas, Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Primary Congenital,Milroys Disease,Nonne Milroy Disease,Nonne Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne Milroy Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedemas
D008866 Microsurgery The performance of surgical procedures with the aid of a microscope.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000714 Anastomosis, Surgical Surgical union or shunt between ducts, tubes or vessels. It may be end-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-end, or side-to-side. Surgical Anastomosis,Anastomoses, Surgical,Surgical Anastomoses
D042601 Lymphatic Vessels Tubular vessels that are involved in the transport of LYMPH and LYMPHOCYTES. Capillaries, Lymphatic,Lymphatic Capillaries,Lymphatic Venules,Venules, Lymphatic,Capillary, Lymphatic,Lymphatic Capillary,Lymphatic Venule,Lymphatic Vessel,Venule, Lymphatic,Vessel, Lymphatic,Vessels, Lymphatic
D064887 Observational Studies as Topic Works about clinical studies in which participants may receive diagnostic, therapeutic, or other types of interventions, but the investigator does not assign participants to specific interventions (as in an interventional study). Natural Experiment as Topic,Natural Experiments as Topic,Naturalistic Observation Studies as Topic,Naturalistic Observation Study as Topic,Observational Study as Topic

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