Omental transposition for lymphedema after a breast cancer resection: report of a case

• Published in: Surgery today (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 175 - 179
• Main Authors: Nakajima, Eiji, Nakajima, Ryu, Tsukamoto, Soichiro, Koide, Yoshio, Yarita, Tsutomu, Kato, Harubumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 01-02-2006
• Subjects: Aged; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Female; Humans; Lymphatic Vessels - physiology; Lymphedema - etiology; Lymphedema - surgery; Mastectomy, Radical - adverse effects; Mastectomy, Radical - methods; Omentum - transplantation; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Prognosis; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Recovery of Function; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Upper Extremity
• ISSN: 0941-1291; 1436-2813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00595-005-3111-7

Lymphedema of the arm and hand is one of the major complications after a breast cancer resection. Conservative treatment for the treatment of lymphedema, such as compression garments and centripetal massage, is very important for these cases. However, if the lymphedema is difficult to control with conservative treatment and the patient's quality of life (QOL) is compromised due to swelling of the arms, surgical treatment should be considered. We used omental transposition to improve the status of lymphedema in the present patient whose left arm and hand had been swollen for 5 years, which thus prevented her from being able to lift her arm. After the operation, she was able to lift her left arm herself and perform tasks with her left hand, thereby obtaining a better QOL than before the operation regarding her left arm movement.