MICROSURGICAL LYMPHVESSEL-TRAN SPLANTATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF LYMPHEDEMA: EXPERIMENTAL AND FIRST CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
Abstract
At the aid of the operating microscope it was possible to prepare lymphcollectors over a distance up to 25 cm. Ln order to perform the anastomoses we developed a tension free technique (1) using absorbable suture material (Polyglactin 910 size 10-12x0). The patency of 13 end to end anastomoses in rats was proved in all 13 anastomoses by histology and in 11 anastomoses by dye application. The mean observation time was 65 days.