Background Preoperative mapping of lymphatic vessels for lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) surgery is frequently performed by indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography solely; however, other imaging modalities, such as ultrasound (US), might be more efficient, particularly for Caucasian patients. We present our preoperative assessment protocol, experience, and approach of using US for locating optimal LVA sites. Material and Methods Fifty-six (16 males) lymphedema patients who underwent LVA surgery were included in this study, 5 of whom received two LVA operations. In total, 61 LVA procedures with 233 dissected lymphatic vessels were evaluated. Preoperative US was performed by the author S.M. 2 days before intraoperative ICG lymphography. Fluid-predominant lymphedema regions were scanned more profoundly. Skin incisions followed preoperative US and ICG lymphography markings. Detection of lymphatic vessels was compared between ICG lymphography and the US by using the intraoperative verification under the microscope with 20 to 50x magnification as the reference standard. Results Among the dissected lymphatic vessels, 83.3% could be localized by US, and 70% were detectable exclusively by it. In all, 7.2% of US-detected lymphatic vessels could not be found and verified intraoperatively. Among the lymphatic vessels found by US, only 16% were apparent with ICG before skin incision. In total, 23.2% of the dissected lymphatic vessels could be visualized with ICG lymphography preoperatively. Only 9.9% of the lymphatic vessels could be found by ICG alone. Conclusion High-frequency US mapping accurately finds functional lymphatic vessels and matching veins. It locates fluid-predominant regions for targeted LVA surgeries. It reveals 3.6 times as many lymphatic vessels as ICG lymphography. In our practice, it has an integral role in planning LVA procedures.

Background: Microsurgical amelioration of lymphedema has gained much traction in recent years and is now an established modality of treatment for this condition. Despite the development of many newer techniques, lymphaticovenous anastomosis still remains the most frequently carried out microsurgical procedure for lymphedema. One of the most common hurdles faced by lymphatic surgeons while carrying out a lymphaticovenous anastomosis is a mismatch in sizes of the vein and the lymphatic vessels. Method: This article describes a novel but simple “double barrel” technique, developed by the authors for carrying out lymphaticovenous anastomosis in cases of such lymphaticovenous mismatch. Seventeen double barrel anastomoses were carried out in 12 lymphedema patients, over a 4-year period from 2017 to 2021. Results: The overall success rate was 100%, as measured by clinical observation (venous washout, lymphatic backflow), the Acland vessel strip test, and by means of intraoperative ICG lymphography. Mild leakage was observed in four cases after release of the venous clamp and was corrected by application of additional sutures. Conclusions: The double barrel technique is a safe and effective tool that can be employed to deal with the bane of size mismatch, a persistent problem faced by lymphedema surgeons universally. Although we do not advocate it as a total replacement for other techniques, it can be a worthy addition to the present set of available options. In specific scenarios of mismatch with additional challenges, the double barrel technique has the potential to be considered as primus inter pares.

As a result of the glandular tissue excision carried out because of a chronic HS, a deficiency emerges. TDAP flap is an ideal solution for surgical reconstruction of axillar deficiencies, and a great alternative to SSG.