Topic: Vascularized Lymph Node Transfers for Lymphedema: Outcomes and Complications

Lymphedema is an underreported chronic and progressive condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While labor-intensive therapy and compression remain standard of care, new surgical options promise to decrease the incidence of secondary lymphedema and decrease the burden of lymphedema in select patients. Vascularized lymph node transfers are among these advanced surgical interventions. While preliminary reports illustrate the great potential of the technique, the field of lymph node transfer is an open frontier, with many unanswered questions regarding specific indications, algorithm for flap choice, surgical technique, and postoperative management. In this Special Issue, we address some of these unresolved questions, including patient selection, donor site selection, skin paddle inclusion, and level of transfer, with many experts in the field.

15 May 2022