PATIENTS
In this section you can find some of our patients who had the lymph node transfer operation to treat various forms of lymphedema.
These people took the next step to the cure of lymphedema all with excellent results and a huge impact to their lifestyle.
Upper / Lower limb lymphedema
A 44 years old female patient with a left upper limb breast cancer related lymphedema Stage II, presented with a very painful armpit and feeling of heaviness at her arm. The difference in arms volume was 513cc. In October 2013, she was offered a Lymph Node Transfer from the right groin to the left axilla. After the surgery the arm is gradually reduced; today the volume difference is 135cc, she is free of pain and feels no heaviness anymore. She stopped wearing her pressure garments six months after the surgery and she works perpetually at her own restaurant.
One of our first female patients with a Stage ΙΙΙ right arm breast cancer related lymphedema. She was suffering of pain, feeling of heaviness and regular lymphangitis (arm infections) episodes with high fever. In January 2013, at her age of 47, she underwent a Lymph Node Transfer from the left groin to right axilla. For personal reasons she stopped wearing her pressure garment 4 months after the operation. Three years after the surgery the arm is very soft and free of pain, she feels no heaviness and does not experience infection episodes anymore.
A 48 years old female patient with a Stage ΙΙ left arm breast cancer related lymphedema after partial mastectomy, lymph node dissection and chemotherapy. She was suffering of mild pain and heaviness of the upper limb, but the main problem was the frequent episodes of erysipelas (arm infections), which required hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics more than 7 times per year. On March 2014 she underwent a Lymph Node Transfer and therefor she has a reduction not only of the arm volume, the pain and heaviness but mainly she has no infection episodes. Six months after the surgery, she stopped wearing the elastic glove.
A 70 years old female patient with a Stage III left arm lymphedema related to breast cancer was suffering of pain, feeling of very heavy arm and some infection episodes with high fever. The difference of the volume between the arms was 1921cc. One year after a Lymph Node Transfer the volume difference has decreased to 786cc, the left arm is very soft, she feels no pain, no heaviness anymore and she does not experience any infection. She stopped wearing her pressure garment 6 months after the surgery.
A 77 years old female patient with Stage III left arm breast cancer related lymphedema. She was suffering of heavy pain, brachial plexus neuropathy and unable to lift her arm. The difference in volume of the arms was 1543cc. In October 2014, she underwent a Lymph Node Transfer. Six months after the surgery she stopped physiotherapy and elastic glove application. One year after the surgery she has a reduced volume difference of 571cc, she feels no more pain and has gained some arm movement.
A 58 years old female patient with a right upper limb breast cancer related lymphedema Stage III, after mastectomy, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, was suffering of painful armpit and feeling of heaviness at her arm. The difference in arms volume was 1408cc. In October 2013, she underwent a Lymph Node Transfer and simultaneously a free Abdominal flap (DIEP) for right breast reconstruction. Two years after the surgery the difference in arms volume reduced to 805cc and the patient is free of pain and feels no heaviness anymore. She stopped wearing the pressure garments six months after the operation.
A 44 years old female patient with a left mastectomy and subclinical left arm lymphedema. She underwent an axillary scar release and a free Abdominal flap (DIEP) for left breast reconstruction. Two years after the surgery she has an improvement at her left arm mobility.
A 55 years old female patient with a right mastectomy and implant breast reconstruction elsewhere was suffering of extreme pain at her armpit and heavy right upper limb. She had a Stage I lymphedema. In 2011, the patient underwent a removal of the implant, axillary scar release and simultaneous Lymph Node Transfer and a free Abdominal flap (DIEP) for right breast reconstruction. Five years after the surgery she remains free of pain, no heavy arm and she has an improvement at the quality of her life.
Congenital lymphedema
He had presented with a history of primary lymphedema since he was young.
He underwent lymph node transfer 3 years ago and when lymphedema became lipoedema he had an additional liposuction. Pictures before and 3 years after the LNT.
A 37 years old female patient with primary (congenital) lymphedema at her left lower limb. A Lymph Node Transfer was successfully performed in October 2014 and the leg has gradually improved; it is soft and has a reduced volume. Now the patient is candidate for selective liposculpture.
A 26 years old female patient with primary (congenital) lymphedema of her left lower limb. A Lymph Node Transfer at her left knee was successfully performed in July 2014 and the leg since the operation has gradually improved. It is soft, the volume is reduced and the patient does not feel it heavy anymore.
Young girl with congenital lymphedema at her right lower limb. In 2013, at her age of 7 years old, a Lymph Node Transfer was successfully performed. Five years after the surgery the patient remains lymphedema free symptoms, while she grows and both limbs volume are gradually normalizing.
A 47 years old male patient with primary (congenital) lymphedema at arms, legs, face and abdomen. Due to the absent of lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels the patient is treated conservatively with physiotherapy and bandaging and is on the waiting list for liposuction as soon as the affected areas will be softened.