Journal «Angiology and Vascular Surgery» • 

2001 • VOLUME 7 • №1

RADIOTHERAPY OF INGUINAL LYMPHORRHEA AFTER ARTERIAL RECONSTRUCTION

A.A. Fokin, A.G. Kuznetsov, L.A. Orekhova, A.A. Fedin
Chair of Hospital Surgery, Chelyabinsk Medical Academy,
Regional Centre of Vascular Surgery,
Chelyabinsk, Russia

Between March 1996 and December 1999, 751 patients underwent reconstructive interventions predominantly for occlusive lesions it the aortoiliac segment and in lower limb arteries. In all the cases uni- or bilateral tissue dissection was performed with vessel exposure in the area of the femoral triangle. Lymphorrhea from the inguinal wound occurred in 21 (2.8%) patients. Of these, 19 patients had a synthetic vascular graft in that area. The incidence of lymphorrhea with respect to the total wound number constituted 2.3% Lymph leakage appeared on the 3th-6th postoperative day and was noticeable. No wound suppuration, disjunction of wound edges or graft exposure were recorded. A single bacteriological analysis of the wound lymph failed to reveal the growth of microorganisms. The patients were treated by radiotherapy. The number of sessions varied within 2 to 7. The total radiation dose constituted 52 to 448 Gy. In the postoperative time the patients received antibiotic therapy. All the patients showed lymphorrhea removal and wound healing. The graft remained passable and uninfected. There were no radiation-induced changes in the blood. In the long-term period (3 to 40 month follow-up), two patients developed graft thrombosis. No chronic lower limb lymph insufficiency on the side of lymphorrhea was recorded.

KEY WORDS: arterial reconstruction, lymphorrhea, radiotherapy.

P. 99

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