Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40962960›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of surgical oncology2026

Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction (ILR) for the Prevention of Lymphedema: A Meta-analysis of Prospective Clinical Trials.

Stav Brown, Yizhuo Shen, Felix J Klimitz, Meera Nair, Alexzandra Mattia, Martin Kauke-Navarro, Olivier F Noel, Luccie Wo, Bohdan Pomahac, Parisa Lofti and 2 more

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Stav Brown *Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Yizhuo Shen *Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Felix J KlimitzPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Meera NairPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Alexzandra MattiaPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Martin Kauke-NavarroPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Olivier F NoelPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Luccie WoPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Bohdan PomahacPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Parisa LoftiRadiology and Biomedical Imaging Department, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Mehra GolshanDepartment of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Siba HaykalPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. siba.haykal@yale.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the growing use of immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) for preventing lymphedema, prospective long-term data on its efficacy remain limited.

objectiveThis study aimed to analyze long-term, prospective outcomes of ILR, utilizing all available outcome measures.

methodsOutcome data included the pooled cumulative incidence of lymphedema (assessed by limb measurements), odds ratio (OR), and relative risk (RR) for lymphedema development in patients who underwent ILR versus those who did not. Only prospective clinical trials with a minimum of 12 months of follow-up were included.

resultsNine prospective studies (2011-2024) were included, totaling 791 patients, with 460 undergoing ILR and an average follow-up of 20.6 ± 4.8 months. On average, 1.9 ± 0.4 anastomoses were performed per patient. ILR was associated with a significantly lower incidence of lymphedema: 9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1-16%) compared with 29% (95% CI 11-46%) in the non-ILR group. Patients who received ILR had 69% lower odds of developing lymphedema compared with those without ILR (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.19-0.51). A 58% reduction in lymphedema risk was also observed among ILR recipients (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26-0.68).

conclusionThis meta-analysis summarizing prospective data with a minimum of 12-month follow-up represents the largest evaluation to date of ILR with extended follow-up for lymphedema prevention. The findings demonstrate that ILR significantly reduces the incidence, odds, and risk of lymphedema, supporting its role as an effective preventive strategy in at-risk patients.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsLymphatic VesselsLymphedemaPlastic Surgery ProceduresPostoperative ComplicationsClinical Trials as TopicHumansPrognosisProspective Studies

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.