Lymphoscintigraphy study of oedema after femoropopliteal segment surgery

Abstract Introduction Post-surgical oedema of the femoropopliteal segment is a frequent complication, unrelated to the severity of the previous symptoms or changes in subsequent distal arterial pressure. The aim of the study is to assess whether the oedema present in femoropopliteal bypass patients is of lymphatic origin, and the possible influence of the prosthesis and the type of intervention used. Patients and methods An analytical, observational and case-control study of 30 patients who had a femoropopliteal bypass. Isotopic lymphoscintigraphy of the superficial and deep lymphatic system was performed on both limbs in all patients selected for the study. Results The saphenous vein was used in 19 patients and PTFE in 11. The patients were divided into controls, 15 without oedema, and cases, 15 with oedema. Surgery technique: 9 reconstructions of the popliteal portion (1st p.p.), 18 third popliteal portion (3rd p.p.), and 3 distal branches. Scintigraphy findings Asymmetric lymphatic drainage between the 2 limbs was observed in the all 30 examinations, except 1 case (which did not have oedema). There was no lymphatic drainage in 5 cases (one developed oedema). Cases with controls and patients with an autologous or synthetic graft, as well as shunts above and below the knee, were compared. The only statistical difference obtained was that the latter developed oedema more often than those performed close to the knee. Conclusions Therefore, the scintigraphy findings did not point to lymphatic damage as a cause of post-femoropopliteal surgery oedema. The material used did not appear to influence this. The below-knee shunts suffered more oedema than those above the knee.