SynthesisMicrosurgery2019
Efficacy and safety assessment of lymphovenous anastomosis in patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema: A systematic review of prospective evidence.
Synthesis in Microsurgery, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 46 citations in OpenAlex.
- Brain lymphatic drainage pathways, deep cervical lymphatic surgery, and current insights: A systematic review.The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease · 2026Pooled it
- Microsurgical versus complex physical decongestive therapy for chronic breast cancer-related lymphoedema.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety assessment of lymphovenous anastomosis in patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema: A systematic review of prospective evidence.Microsurgery · 2019Pooled it
- Economic evaluation of lymphaticovenous anastomosis versus conservative therapy for breast cancer-related lymphoedema: secondary outcome analysis of a randomized clinical trial.The British journal of surgery · 2026Trial
- The 6 month interim analysis of a randomized controlled trial assessing the quality of life in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema undergoing lymphaticovenous anastomosis vs. conservative therapy.Scientific reports · 2024Trial
- Indocyanine green lymphangiography is superior to clinical staging in breast cancer-related lymphedema.Scientific reports · 2021Trial
- Targeted LVA guided by ultra-high frequency ultrasound and ICG lymphography: A pilot study.JPRAS open · 2026Article
- "Debulking" the future of lymphedema surgery: A narrative review.JPRAS open · 2026Review
- Clinical translation of photoacoustic imaging using exogenous molecular contrast agents [Invited].Biomedical optics express · 2025Review
- A Prospective Study of the Impact of Lymphatic Venous Anastomosis as a Treatment for Lymphedema.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Article
- Improved lymphangiogenesis around vascularized lymph node flaps by periodic injection of hyaluronidase in a rodent model.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Lymphovenous anastomosis and complex decongestive therapy for severe deformed lymphedema with recurrent infection: A case report.World journal of clinical cases · 2024Article
- Dutch Translation of the Yost Self-Report Lower Extremity Lymphedema Screening Questionnaire in Women.Cancers · 2024Article
- Lymphatic failure and lymphatic interventions: Knowledge gaps and future directions for a new frontier in congenital heart disease.Seminars in pediatric surgery · 2024Review
- Improving quality of life after breast cancer: a comparison of two microsurgical treatment options for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).Clinical and experimental medicine · 2024Article
- Article
- LED-based photoacoustic imaging for preoperative visualization of lymphatic vessels in patients with secondary limb lymphedema.Photoacoustics · 2023Article
- Using Lymphovenous Anastomosis and Lymph Node to Vein Anastomosis for Treatment of Posttraumatic Chylothorax with Increased Thoracic Duct Pressure in 3-Year-Old Child.Archives of plastic surgery · 2022Article
- Pathological Changes in the Lymphatic System of Patients with Secondary Lower Limb Lymphedema Based on Single Photon-Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography/Lymphoscintigraphy Images.Lymphatic research and biology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionLymphoedema is a chronic, debilitating condition caused by an affected lymphatic system. Supermicrosurgical techniques like lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) have gained popularity because of its minimal invasiveness, better aesthetic outcome, and lower costs in comparison to physical medicine. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of LVA in comparison to conservative or other surgical treatments for primary or secondary lymphoedema patients. MATERIALS AND
methodsA systematic literature search was performed in four databases in December 2017. We applied a methodological framework based on the HTA Core Model®. According to the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) scheme, we synthesized the data on each selected outcome category. The studies were systematically assessed for risk of bias (RoB) using the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized controlled studies (RoBANS) and the Institute of Health Economics (IHE) Risk of Bias checklist for case series.
resultsA total of 629 citations were identified and five studies were assessed eligible for final inclusion (one non-randomized controlled trial and four prospective single-arm studies). Across the studies, 217 patients were enrolled. All studies showed a moderate to high RoB. The strength of evidence for the effectiveness and safety of LVA is "very low." Due to the methodological shortcomings of the available evidence, no conclusions can be made about the effectiveness of the procedure.
conclusionLVA might be a safe technique for patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema-particularly because no serious complications were reported. Furthermore, LVA may have a role in the prevention of lymphoedema.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.