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Surgical Management

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Lymphedema

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on surgical interventions for treating chyle reflux. As with many areas of vascular medicine, multidisciplinary management is the norm, with surgeons, medical specialists, and interventional radiologists all playing important roles. An understanding of chyle transportation from the bowel lacteals to the ­thoracic duct and venous system is important in planning treatment. When flow is disrupted, the anatomic location of a blockage or rupture in this ductal system may translate into chylous ascites, chylothorax, chylous cyst, chylopericardium, chyloptysis, chyluria, and skin lesions with chylorrhea. The goal of therapy is to restore balance to the lymphatic system through decreased lymph production, facilitation of physiological lymphatic pathways, or removal of regions of lymphatic dysplasia.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery and Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Richard G. Azizkhan

Authors
  1. Richard G. Azizkhan
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  2. Jesse A. Taylor
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. George Washington University, Washington D.C, Washington, USA

    Byung-Boong Lee

  2. School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    John Bergan

  3. Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, USA

    Stanley G. Rockson

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Azizkhan, R.G., Taylor, J.A. (2011). Surgical Management. In: Lee, BB., Bergan, J., Rockson, S. (eds) Lymphedema. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-567-5_55

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-567-5_55

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-566-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-567-5

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