Lymphedema

Chronic swelling of a limb caused by impaired lymphatic drainage, most commonly after lymph node removal or radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer.

Related terms

• Procedure

  Vascularised lymph node transfer

  Transplantation of a small group of lymph nodes with their vascular pedicle (typically from the groin, supraclavicular fossa, or omentum) to a limb affected by lymphedema.

• Procedure

  Lymphaticovenular anastomosis

  Surgical connection of small lymphatic vessels directly to subdermal venules to provide physiological drainage in lymphedematous tissue. Performed under supermicrosurgical conditions.

Articles mentioning this term

1. Patient information · 26 September 2026

   Melanoma surgery

   Wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy after melanoma: why the margin follows Breslow thickness, what happens on the day, the risks and follow-up.

2. Expert blog · 9 May 2026

   Free tissue transfer: principles, applications, and current practice

   Conceptual overview of free flap surgery — what a free flap is, where the technique came from, the workhorse flaps, outcomes, and current directions.

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