ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open2023
Lymphatic Mapping with Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis Surgery: How We Do It.
Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Animal Models of Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions in Translational Research.Microsurgery · 2026Pooled it
- Preoperative Assessment of Lymphatic-Venous Anastomosis Using Indocyanine Green Angiography Combined with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound with Perflubutane.Journal of plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2026Article
- Protocol of Noncontrast High-frequency Ultrasound and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound-guided Lymphatic Mapping for Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis Surgery.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Establishing a Standard Method for Screening Lymphatic Ultrasound in Lymphedema Patients.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- [Research progress on the application of ultrasound technology in the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema].Zhonghua shao shang yu chuang mian xiu fu za zhi · 2026Review
- Percutaneous Lymphatic Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Preoperative Localization in Stage 2-3 Lymphedema: A Feasibility Study.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Cutaneous lymphatics and skin diseases: mechanisms, imaging modalities, and future therapeutic strategies.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Review
- Comparative Evaluation of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound and Indocyanine Green Lymphography for Lymphatic Mapping: A Retrospective Study.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Establishing a Standard Method for Screening Lymphatic Ultrasound in Lymphedema Patients.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Application of percutaneous lymphatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound in lymphovenous anastomosis microsurgery.PloS one · 2025Article
- Randomized Feasibility Study Evaluating Multiple FDA-approved Microbubbles for CEUS Lymphography.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2024Article
- Lymphatic Mapping for LVA with Noncontrast Lymphatic Ultrasound: How We Do It.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) surgery is an effective surgery for the treatment of lymphedema in the extremities. Indocyanine green lymphography is the reference standard for visualizing lymphatics for LVA surgery, but it has several limitations; most notably, superficial dermal congestion can mask deeper lymphatic vessels. To overcome the limitations, we add contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) lymphography. We have previously reported that CEUS lymphography can identify lymphatic vessels for LVA surgery that indocyanine green lymphography does not. Here, we describe how we perform CEUS lymphography, including workflow, technique, and documentation. Before informed consent, the patient must be screened for possible adverse reactions to microbubbles. The procedure involves multiple intradermal injections of the microbubble agent at various sites along the extremity. After each injection, imaging for microbubble uptake by lymphatic vessels is performed using an ultrasound scanner with contrast-specific software. We use sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres (Lumason/SonoVue; Bracco Suisse SA), but we are investigating the performance of other Food & Drug Administration-approved microbubble agents for CEUS lymphography. Having a systematic approach to marking the skin can mitigate the hindrance of marking over ultrasound coupling gel. Another benefit of CEUS lymphography is the rapid identification of neighboring veins compatible in size and location for anastomosis. We hold regular scheduled multidisciplinary meetings for coordination of care, discussion of outcomes, quality assurance, and ongoing innovation.
Identifiers
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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.