HUMANITARIAN RESCUE MEDICAL ACTION FOR PATIENT WITH ADVANCED LOWER EXTREMITY LYMPHEDEMA

Abstract

No clear data exists regarding theinitiating process of medial care delivery incases of humanitarian rescue for advancedand debilitating patient conditions. We reporton the delivery of care from a hospital locatedin a rural area in Southern Taiwan to adesperate patient from a country across theworld in Lima, Peru. The patient is a 45-yearold woman with unilateral severe, progressiveprimary lymphedema of 26 years who wasscheduled to undergo a high femoral amputationfor infections, lymphatic leak, inabilityto ambulate, and symptomatic cardiomegaly.All arrangements for care, including dentalrestoration, were made by our hospital incollaboration with the government of Peru.Upon multi-departmental consultation, an8-hour Charles procedure was performedremoving 47 kg of lymphedematous thigh andleg tissue. Eleven months postoperatively thepatient is healed and ambulating withoutassistance. Her weight dropped from 120 to73 kg. This case of humanitarian actiondemonstrates intense collaboration andcoordination between two governments withdialogue, diplomatic success, a lymphedemasurgical feat, and ultimately a successfuloutcome for the patient.