Shinsuke Akita

Early diagnosis and risk factors for lymphedema following lymph node dissection for gynecologic cancer.

Background: Although early diagnosis is important for selecting an effective surgical treatment for secondary lymphedema, an efficient screening test for detecting early-stage lymphedema has not yet been established. Serial changes of lymphatic function before and after lymph node dissection and risk factors for secondary lymphedema are important indicators. Methods: A prospective cohort observational study was conducted with 100 consecutive gynecologic cancer patients who underwent pelvic lymph node dissection. Lymphatic function was assessed by noninvasive lymphography using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging on a routine schedule. Earliest findings after lymphadenectomy and risk factors for lower leg lymphedema were investigated. Results: Atypical transient dermal backflow patterns were observed in an early postoperative period in 50 cases, all of which disappeared within 3 months. Of these patterns, the splash pattern was observed in 31 patients, of which five improved to normal following a natural course. In contrast, the stardust pattern was observed in 27 patients, and none had improved with conservative therapy. Postoperative radiotherapy was a significant risk factor for the stardust pattern. Conclusions: All patients who undergo lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies should be examined for secondary lower extremity lymphedema by qualitative evaluation methods on a routine schedule to determine the earliest possible diagnosis. Because the splash pattern on indocyanine green lymphography is a reversible lymphatic disorder following a natural course, surgical treatments are not recommended. The decision regarding surgical treatment can be made after observing the stardust pattern. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.

Comparison of Vascularized Supraclavicular Lymph Node Transfer and Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis for Advanced Stage Lower Extremity Lymphedema

BackgroundVascularized lymph node transfer has become a popular surgical option to improve lower extremity lymphedema (LEL), although potential donor sites are limited. The free supraclavicular flap with deep cervical lymph nodes has been recently associated with a minimal risk of secondary lymphedema caused by donor site dissection. However, the effectiveness of this procedure has not yet been evaluated. MethodsVascularized supraclavicular lymph node transfer (VSLNT) was performed for patients with International Society of Lymphology late stage II or more severe LEL. The results were compared with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) performed for patients with the same stages of severity. To evaluate improvement in lymphatic function, indocyanine green lymphography and lymphoscintigraphy were performed. ResultsVascularized supraclavicular lymph node transfer was performed in 13 limbs of 13 patients. The results were compared with 43 limbs of 33 patients who underwent multiple LVA. No severe complications were observed in either group. Improvement in lymphatic function, as measured by the LEL index, was 26.5 ± 4.4 and 21.2 ± 2.0 in the VSLNT and LVA groups, respectively. Lymphatic function was improved in 7 cases in the VSLNT group and 10 cases in the LVA group. ConclusionsVascularized supraclavicular lymph node transfer is an effective technique for the treatment of advanced stage LEL. Lymphaticovenular anastomosis is also effective, but to a lesser degree than VSLNT. However, LVA is less invasive and requires a shorter hospital stay.

Early midfacial distraction for syndromic craniosynostotic patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Syndromic craniosynostosis is known to be associated with various obstructive respiratory disorders, including sleep apnoea. We performed early midfacial distraction in 11 syndromic craniosynostotic patients with obstructive respiratory apnoea and obtained good results. There were four patients with Crouzon syndrome, three patients with Pfeiffer syndrome and four patients with Apert syndrome. Their ages ranged from 7 months to 3 years, 9 months (mean: 2 years, 5 months). Midfacial distraction was performed using an internal or external device to improve obstructive respiratory disorders, such as sleep apnoea, and to avoid tracheostomy. Evaluation was performed by comparison of the pre- and postoperative polysomnograms (PSGs) and cephalograms. All patients had markedly improved respiratory disorders during sleep and avoided tracheostomy. Preoperative PSGs and cephalograms were compared with those from 1 year to 1 year, 6 months postoperatively. The postoperative PSGs and cephalograms showed marked improvements compared with preoperative PSGs and cephalograms. Syndromic craniosynostotic patients have facial bone hypoplasia, particularly of the maxilla. The tongue and parapharyngeal soft tissue become enlarged, and the enlarged tissues can cause airway obstruction. In this study, marked improvements were observed in physical evaluation using PSGs and morphological evaluation using cephalograms. Early midfacial distraction is thought to be a very useful method to reconstruct a large pharyngeal cavity, enlarge the airway, improve obstructive respiratory disorders and to avoid tracheostomy. It is important to select a device suitable for each case when surgery and distraction are performed.

Suitable therapy options for sub-clinical and early-stage lymphoedema patients

BACKGROUND The best therapeutic approach for patients with sub-clinical lymphoedema and symptomatic early-stage lymphoedema has not been determined yet. METHODS The prognosis of lymphatic function after lymphadenectomy for gynaecological cancer was observed in a cohort study of 192 lower limbs. Lymphatic function was evaluated by indocyanine green lymphography. Splash patterns were examined to determine if patients with this pattern tended to progress to symptomatic lymphoedema, and the efficacy of the compression therapy was also investigated. We also investigated the efficacy of lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) in patients who exhibited a stardust pattern. RESULTS Patients with splash patterns on lymphography may progress to symptomatic lymphoedema with a significantly higher frequency compared with the others, with a relative ratio of 1.62. Compression therapy did not slow the progression of patients with splash patterns to stardust patterns. LVA for the patients who had recently shown stardust patterns eliminated the need for compression therapy in 44.8% of patients. CONCLUSION Patients with splash patterns should be followed up carefully for sub-clinical lymphoedema. However, there is no method to completely prevent these patients from developing stardust patterns associated with symptomatic lymphoedema. When patients become symptomatic, their lymphatic function may be improved by LVA. However, the limited effectiveness of this procedure should be clearly explained to patients before surgery.

Association between plate location and plate removal following facial fracture repair.

BACKGROUND Titanium-based plates used to repair facial fractures are sometimes removed despite their high biocompatibility. Local discomfort can lead to plate removal surgery. Local discomfort may differ according to patient characteristics, tissue properties and plate thickness; however, little is known about the relationship between these conditions and plate removal. METHODS We performed a hospital-based, retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent internal fixation for facial or frontal bone fracture. To identify factors associated with plate removal, we used multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS Data from 138 patients were analysed. All plates were made of commercially pure titanium, and all screws were made of titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium alloy. Plate thickness was 1.2 mm or 0.6 mm. Among plate locations, the frontozygomatic suture showed the highest percentage of complications (84%, 86 of 102 patients). The majority consisted of palpability and visibility. In patients who underwent plate removal (n = 96), all plates and screws were removed successfully. All plate-related complications were resolved after plate removal. No complications were introduced by plate removal. Plates 1.2 mm in thickness on the frontozygomatic suture had a relative risk of complications 2.48 times (95% confidence interval, 1.13-5.43) that of plates 0.6 mm in thickness. By multivariate analysis, the presence of plates on the frontozygomatic suture was a significant and independent risk factor for removal. Patients with plates on the frontozygomatic suture had a risk of plate removal 3.95 times (95% confidence interval, 1.55-10.07; P < 0.01) that of patients without plates on the frontozygomatic suture. CONCLUSION Plates on the frontozygomatic suture have a high rate of complications. Thick plates increase these risks. Patients with plates on the frontozygomatic suture are more likely to undergo plate removal surgery than patients without plates on the frontozygomatic suture.

Early Detection of Lymphatic Disorder and Treatment for Lymphedema following Breast Cancer

Background: Upper extremity edema following surgical treatment for breast cancer does not always result in chronic breast cancer–related lymphedema. Changes in the findings of indocyanine green lymphography and upper extremity volume following breast cancer surgery were observed prospectively to understand the early changes in lymphatic function and to establish a new strategy for early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer–related lymphedema. Methods: Lymphatic function for 196 consecutive breasts was examined using indocyanine green lymphography and bilateral upper extremity volume before surgery and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery. When a “stardust,” “diffuse,” or “no flow” pattern was observed, patients were diagnosed with lymphatic disorder and subsequently underwent conservative treatments such as compression sleeve therapy. Result: In 35 patients, lymphatic disorder was observed after a mean of 5.2 ± 3.0 months after surgery. In 21 of these patients, no significant limb volume change was observed. In 14 patients, lymphatic disorder and volume change appeared simultaneously. In 11 of 35 patients, lymphatic function improved later, and compression therapy was discontinued. Lymph node dissection, radiation therapy to axillary lymph node, and the use of docetaxel chemotherapy were significant risk factors for lymphatic disorder. No patients experienced cellulitis during the study period. Conclusions: Lymphatic function disorder could be detected before volume changes. By early intervention with conservative treatments, lymphatic function improved in just under one-third of cases. Indocyanine green lymphography for high-risk patients may be useful for detecting lymphatic disorder early, thereby increasing the chance for disease cure. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

External valvuloplasty for subcutaneous small veins to prevent venous reflux in lymphaticovenular anastomosis for lower extremity lymphedema.

Background: Subcutaneous ecchymosis caused by venous reflux is a preventable complication following lymphaticovenular anastomosis. The authors developed a series of operative procedures to prevent venous reflux. This is probably the first report on valvuloplasty for small subcutaneous veins (diameter, <1 mm). Methods: A total of 165 anastomoses in 39 limbs were operated on using this novel procedure (study group). Extended vein dissection was performed to ensure inclusion of some venous valves. Venous regurgitation was assessed using a retrograde milking test. When regurgitation was observed at all peripheral branches, external valvuloplasty was performed at the small subcutaneous vein to prevent backflow. The rate of venous reflux was compared with 151 anastomoses in 34 limbs operated on using conventional procedures (control group). Moreover, the amount of volume reduction was compared between the patients with and without venous reflux. Results: In the study group, the rate of regurgitation was reduced (3.0 percent) by extended vein dissection compared with that in the control group (9.9 percent), whereas the regurgitation ceased completely following external valvuloplasty (0 percent). In addition, postoperative ecchymosis was prevented completely in the study group (8.8 percent in the control group). Perioperative improvement in the lower extremity lymphedema index was significantly different between the patients with and without venous reflux (with venous reflux, 0.0706 ± 0.0742; without venous reflux, 0.0904 ± 0.0614). Conclusions: The authors’ results suggest that these operative procedures could be highly effective in preventing venous reflux. Moreover, venous reflux, if not corrected, leads to worsening of the results. Excellent results were consistently achieved by preventing venous reflux. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Regional Oxygen Saturation Index: A Novel Criterion for Free Flap Assessment Using Tissue Oximetry.

Background: Tissue oximetry is a useful tool for postoperative free flap monitoring. Reported criterion values have been accurate; however, there are various complicated author-dependent criteria, and sometimes it is too late for flap salvage. The authors offer a new, simple criterion for faster and accurate detection of perfusion problems. Methods: Intraoperatively, perfusion areas of various free perforator flaps were assessed by both indocyanine green angiography and regional oxygen saturation. The elevated flap was categorized into the early-stained area, the delayed-stained area, and the no-stained area by indocyanine green angiography. The regional oxygen saturation index (regional oxygen saturation on the flap on the control nondissected portion) of each area was calculated. Postoperative continuous flap monitoring was conducted, recording the value of the regional oxygen saturation index at the early-stained area. The blood glucose measurement index was also recorded periodically. Results: In 60 cases of perforator-based free flaps, intraoperative indocyanine green areas were significantly correlated with the values of regional oxygen saturation index. The postoperative regional oxygen saturation index showed very stable values in various types of perforator flaps, provided that no vascular problem occurred, and it never went below 0.75. When vascular problems occurred, the regional oxygen saturation index dropped below 0.75 in all three cases before the blood glucose measurement index and the absolute value of regional oxygen saturation dropped below the criterion value. Conclusion: The regional oxygen saturation index may be a simple and fast criterion for detecting vascular problems following free flap reconstruction compared with existing criteria. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, II.

Reconstruction using a divided latissimus dorsi muscle flap after conventional posterolateral thoracotomy and the effectiveness of indocyanine green-fluorescence angiography to assess intraoperative blood flow

PurposeIn most general thoracic operations performed via standard posterolateral thoracotomy, such as for descending aortic aneurysms and lung cancer, the latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle is divided. However, division of the LD can hamper reconstructive surgery because the initial operation creates unstable blood flow to the divided LD. We conducted this study to assess blood flow in a divided distal LD muscle flap using intraoperative indocyanine green-fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) with the Hyper Eye Medical System® (Mizuho Medical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan).MethodsThe subjects were 11 patients who underwent posterolateral thoracotomy with reconstructive surgery using a divided distal LD and other peripheral muscle flaps. Intraoperative ICG-FA was conducted to assess blood flow to the LD.ResultsIntraoperative ICG-FA revealed that at least two intercostal perforators from the sixth to the tenth intercostal spaces were preserved as feeding vessels to the divided distal LD. There were no major complications associated with inadequate blood flow to the muscle flaps.ConclusionIntraoperative ICG-FA proved extremely useful for assessing altered blood flow of the divided LD and for selecting preserved intercostal perforators.

Reconstruction of the great toe using a pedicled medial plantar flap with anterograde venous drainage

Reconstruction of the great toe defect is difficult. The most distal point of the rotation arc of a retrograde‐flow medial plantar flap is the plantar side of the proximal phalanx. The purpose of this report was to present a new procedure that extends the rotation arc of this flap. Results of anatomic study and application in two patients were presented.