The use of subatmospheric pressure dressing therapy to close lymphocutaneous fistulas of the groin

Use of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy in treating lymphatic complications after vascular procedures: New approach for lymphoceles

“…31 Greer et al reported their experience with VAC treatment for LF in the groin in a small case series consisting of 2 patients. 20 The authors reported good results and concluded that VAC therapy was a promising treatment option. In another small case series, Abai et al reported good results of negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of groin LF in three cases at their institution.…”

Lymphatic Fistulas: Obliteration by Low-Dose Radiotherapy

“…A variety of treatment attempts have been described including leg elevation, continuous local pressure [35], subatmospheric pressure dressing therapy [6], surgical ligation of the leaking vessel alone [14] or with the assistance of blue-dye staining of lymphatic anatomy [31,37], or radiotherapy [3,12,21].…”

“…In twelve patients, radiotherapy was administered with an orthovoltage unit (100 kV, 20 mA, 3 mm aluminum) and a source-skin distance of 40 cm. Five patients were treated with a linear accelerator using electrons (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) in two cases, while a further three patients, who presented with lymphatic complications after hip arthroplasty (five fistulas), were irradiated with photon beams (8 MV). Details are given in Table 1.…”

Treatment of Lymphocutaneous Fistulas After Vascular Procedures of the Lower Limb: Accurate Wound Reclosure and 3 Weeks of Consistent and Continuing Drainage

“…However, radiotherapy seems a heavy treatment, and this technology is not available in many hospitals. Negative-pressure wound therapy was first described by Greer et al, 14 demonstrating complete wound closure in two patients with complicated groin lymphocutaneous fistulas, after 16 days and 7 weeks, respectively, of unsuccessful conservative therapy. This less invasive treatment was further shown to heal groin lymphocutaneous fistulas in three cases by Abai et al 15 : the lymph leakage stopped after a mean of 14 days, and mean length of hospital stay was 7.3 days.…”