An experimental study of surgical treatment for lymphedema in rats: A modified Kinmonth procedure and autologous lymph node capsule-venous anastomosis with lymph node transfer.

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of various surgical procedures on lymphedema in a rat model. In 26 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, randomly divided into four groups, surgical lymphedema was created in the left hind limbs.: The control group had no drainage, Group 1 had a conventional Kinmonth operation, Group 2 had a modified Kinmonth operation using the greater omentum and Group 3 had autologous lymph node capsule-venous anastomosis with lymph node transfer. Circumference measurement was performed to calculate percent difference and circumferential reduction rate. In Groups 2 and 3, patent blue violet was injected to identify lymphatics. In all groups, hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and 5'-nucleotidase stainning were done to evaluate lymphatics histopathologically. The percent difference and the circumferential reduction rate respectively showed the smallest and largest values in Group 2. A significant difference was found between the control group and Group 2 (p < 0.05). Lymphatic vessels were shown by patent blue violet injection in Groups 2 and 3. H-E and 5'-nucleotidase staining revealed patency of lymphatics. A modified Kinmonth procedure using the greater omentum was the most effective procedure for early lymphedema in a rat model and autologous lymph node capsule-venous anastomosis with lymph node transfer was effective for lymph draining in certain conditions, so it may assist in elucidating surgical treatment of lymphedema.