CHANGES IN QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH LYMPHEDEMA AFTER LYMPHATIC VESSEL TRANSPLANTATION

S Springer, M Koller, R.G.H Baumeister, A Frick

Abstract


There are multiple treatment options forpatients with chronic lymphedema, and onesuccessful approach is lymph vessel transplantation.As quality of life assessments arefrequently not utilized in standard treatmentregimes, we investigated the change in qualityof life for patients with chronic lymphedema(total =212) who had undergone lymphaticvessel transplantation and conservativetherapy for at least 6 months prior to operation.Quality of life was assessed by a modifiedstandard questionnaire examining thephysiological and psychological status of thepatients. Results document a significantimprovement in quality of life and underscoresuccess of autologous lymphatic vesseltransplantation as a therapy for lymphedema.

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