Node Transplantation Research Articles

The Boston lymphatic center's early experience with lymph node transplantation to the upper extremity.

Although vascularized lymph node transplantation (VLNT) has gained recognition as an effective treatment option for lymphedema, no consensus on the timing of transplant with other lymphatic procedures has been established. The aim of this study is to describe our institutional experience with VLNT, including our staged approach and report postoperative outcomes. A retrospective review of patients who underwent VLNT for upper extremity lymphedema from May 2017 to April 2022 was conducted. Patients were divided into fat- or fluid-dominant phenotypes based on preoperative workup. Patients with a minimum of 12-month follow-up were included. Records were reviewed for demographic, intraoperative, and surveillance data. Twenty-three patients underwent VLNT of the upper extremity during the study period, of which eighteen met the study criteria. Nine patients had fluid-dominant disease and nine patients had fat-dominant disease and had undergone prior debulking at our institution. Fluid-dominant patients demonstrated slight reductions in limb volume and hours in compression, and improvement in quality-of-life scores at twelve months. Fat-dominant patients who underwent prior debulking had a slight increase in limb volume without a change in hours of compression, and demonstrated improvements in quality-of-life scores in nearly all subdomains. Overall, 17% of patients discontinued compression therapy entirely. Improvement in extremity edema was present in 83% of postoperative MRIs. VLNT had varying effects on limb measurements while reliably improving quality-of-life and allowing for the potential of discontinuing compression. Utilizing a staged approach wherein debulking is performed upfront may be particularly beneficial for patients with fat-dominant disease.

Supraclavicular lymph node transplant: a focus on technique

Physiologic surgical options, including vascularized lymph node transplant and lymphovenous bypass are becoming increasingly popular interventions for the treatment of lymphedema of both the upper and lower extremities. Many different lymph node donor sites have been described, including submental, lateral thoracic, superficial groin, supraclavicular, and various intraabdominal sites. This paper describes a step-by-step approach to the harvest of vascularized lymph nodes from the supraclavicular area, which is the preferred donor site for most patients with both upper and lower extremity lymphedema.

Early Demonstration of Spontaneous Perinodal Lymphangiogenesis by Lymphoscintigraphy after Vascularized Lymph Node Transplantation - A Pilot Study.

Background:Despite the lymphatic system being so important and extensive, the field of lymphatic diseases, research is still very young. Lymphedema is a progressively debilitating condition with no known “cure.” Specific pathologies that could benefit from improved lymphatic drainage by advanced super surgical techniques or engineered tissue transfer are being sought. Microsurgical techniques like lymphovenous bypass and anastomosis have spurred interest as they tend to physiologically restore the damaged lymphatic channels and may be a key to permanent cure. The latest in the field is vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT), indicated in post mastectomy or other post operative settings producing disruption of regional lymphatic channels and draining lymph nodes. Autologous healthy lymph nodes are transferred along with surrounding fat and vascular pedicle to the affected limb in a bid to promote lymphangiogenesis. Lymphoscintigraphy (LS) is a simple, noninvasive nuclear technique used in identifying upper or lower limb lymphatic dysfunction and obstruction with a high degree of sensitivity. Quantitative LS is extremely useful in follow-up assessment of lymphedema postmanual lymphatic drainage (MLD) or other forms of medical management.Aim:We hypothesize that LS can document perinodal lymphangiogenesis post VLNT.Material and Methods:Three cases of acquired lymphedema (suspected filariasis and postmastectomy conditions) who underwent VLNT in our institute were prospectively studied with LS. The imaging findings highlight the subtle lymphatic regeneration along with the vascularized graft in all three patients during the early postoperative period.Conclusion:This is the first (pilot) study documenting early spontaneous perinodal lymphangiogenesis after VLNT in human subjects.99mTc Nanocolloid LS has been found to be incremental in demonstrating early lymphangiogenesis.

Supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis vs. vascularized lymph vessel transplant - technical optimization and when to perform which

Early surgical intervention for lymphedema can delay, prevent, and even reverse lymphatic degeneration. Vascularized lymph vessel transplant (VLVT) has emerged as an alternative to vascularized lymph node transplant (VLNT) for the treatment of advanced, fluid-predominant lymphedema, providing highly favorable outcomes with reduced donor-site complications. Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) has traditionally been reserved for early disease. However, technical refinements have improved its results and expanded its efficacy, creating an overlap between the indications for VLVT/VLNT and LVA. This article describes our technical approach to VLVT and LVA and explores the nuances of treatment selection in the light of their shifting indications.

Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Review of Management and Innovative Surgical Techniques

Lymphedema is one of the most feared complications of breast cancer treatment. The objective of this article is to review the basic workup, staging, and diagnostic criteria for lymphedema and to discuss non-surgical and surgical treatments, with a focus on breast-cancer related lymphedema. Non-surgical treatment consists of intensive physical therapy including manual lymphatic drainage via massage, daily compression wraps, and exercises to prevent scarring and increase mobility. Surgical intervention is considered when non-surgical treatment is ineffective or more recently as a preventive measure. Surgical interventions, used once lymphedema has developed, include 1) lympho-venous bypass, which is the anastomosis of lymphatic vessels distal to the site of dermal backflow to neighboring venules to shunt lymphatic drainage away from the area of lymphatic injury; 2) vascularized lymph node transplant, in which lymph nodes are harvested from a donor site with their supporting artery and vein and transferred to the affected recipient site; and 3) debulking procedures including liposuction and direct excision. Preventive surgical interventions include 1) lymphatic microsurgical preventive healing approach, known as LYMPHA, which also utilizes lympho-venous anastomoses but at the time of lymph node dissection to anastomose lymphatic channels transected during lymph node dissection with adjacent veins to preserve lymphatic drainage of the arm; and 2) axillary reverse mapping, which involves tracer or dye injection within the ipsilateral arm before axillary surgery so that the breast surgeons are able to delineate nodal drainage and therefore attempt to spare nodes specific to arm tissue provided they are not the sentinel lymph node. Patient selection is critical for these procedures, and requires a multi-disciplinary approach.

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ ХИРУРГИЧЕСКОГО ЛЕЧЕНИЯ ЛИМФЕДЕМЫ КОНЕЧНОСТЕЙ

The article provides the literature overview on various current methods of surgical treatment of patients with limb lymphedema. Despite the fact that the basis of the treatment of this pathology is a complex antiedema therapy, the possibilities of conservative therapeutic measures for lymphedema leave much to be desired and cannot often satisfy either patients or clinicians. The use of surgical methods in the treatment of lymphedema has a long history and has gone from various types of resection to reconstructive interventions. The analysis of current literature data has shown that the choice of the volume and method of surgical correction in lymphedema requires a difficult and individual assessment of the pathological changes developing in the disease, which should be identified only with a comprehensive examination of patients. Operations of lymphovenous anastomosis, transplantation of lymph nodes are considered to be the most effective in the prevention or initial stages of lymphedema. With pronounced manifestations of the disease, optimal results are achieved with a reasonable combination of methods improving lymph drainage and operations reducing the excess volume of the affected limb, thereby provided patients with potentially improved functional outcomes and quality of life. The limitations in improvement despite multimodality treatment are consided to be at the level of satisfactory values. The experience of the most lymphedema professionals has to besuggesteda reasonable balance between basic conservative therapy and surgical treatment. Undoubtedly, the results of evaluating these methods will improve the choice of the optimal method for treating patients with limb lymphedema.

Lympedema Therapies

Secondary lymphedema refers to a condition in which the affected extremity develops progressive hypertrophy due to lymphatic fluid retention. Worldwide, secondary lymphedema is most often associated with parasitic infection; within the United States, secondary lymphedema is most often caused by surgical disruption of the lymphatic drainage basins due to cancer surgery and/or radiation. For patients with lymphedema secondary to parasitic infection, treatment of the offending infectious organism (Wuchereria bancroftii) is critical. For patients with surgical disruption of the lymphatic drainage basin(s), patients are first managed non-operatively with compression and manual lymphatic drainage massage. Over the past decade, surgical techniques have been developed and implemented to improve lymphatic drainage for patients with post-surgical secondary lymphedema. These procedures, including lymphovenous bypass or vascularized lymph node transfer, are aimed at reconstituting lymphatic drainage and reducing lymphatic retention to alleviate early lymphedema. An appreciation of the underlying physiology responsible for secondary lymphedema, and diagnosis and management is required to provide timely and appropriate care for these patients. This review contains 2 tables, 4 figures, and 32 references Keywords: lymphedema, lymphedema treatment, secondary lymphedema, complete decongestive therapy, lymphovenous bypass, vascularized lymph node transplantation, debulking surgery, ICG lymphangiography, lymphedema staging

Surgical Prevention of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Delayed Distal Lymphaticovenicular Anastomosis– An Alternative to the Classic LYMPHA Technique

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a devastating potential complication of axillary lymphadenectomy and radiotherapy. Several effective surgical treatment measures now exist, including lymphaticovenicular anastomosis (LVA), vascularized lymph node transplant (VLNT), and vascularized lymph vessel transplant (VLVT) for fluid-predominant disease, and liposuction and radical excision for solid-predominant disease. Super-microsurgical LVA is of particular interest, owing to its minimally invasive nature and highly favorable outcomes in the hands of experienced supermicrosurgeons. As LVA techniques are refined and improved, interest is rising in utilizing it to prevent the manifestation of disease in the first place. Lymphatic microsurgical preventive healing approach (LYMPHA), also known as immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR), is the most widely used approach. It involves performing axillary LVA immediately following axillary lymphadenectomy. While preliminary results are favorable, the high-pressure proximal axillary venous branches used in ILR and the site’s vulnerability to damage from radiotherapy endanger the long-term patency of these anastomoses. Moreover, a theoretical oncologic concern exists regarding creating a direct conduit for the remaining malignant cells in the axilla into the circulation. Finally, coordinating ILR with axillary lymphadenectomy creates significant logistical challenges. Delayed, distally-based LVA (DD-LVA) has emerged as an alternative method that avoids these issues. This article presents an overview of the development of preemptive lymphatic reconstruction, and the senior author’s approach to the novel technique of DD-LVA.

Complete lymphatic restoration by simultaneous vascularized lymph node and lymphatic vessel transplantation

Complete lymphatic restoration by simultaneous vascularized lymph node and lymphatic vessel transplantation

Mesenteric Lymph Node Transplantation in Mice to Study Immune Responses of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Mesenteric lymph nodes (mLNs) are sentinel sites of enteral immunosurveillance and immune homeostasis. Immune cells from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are constantly recruited to the mLNs in steady-state and under inflammatory conditions resulting in the induction of tolerance and immune cells activation, respectively. Surgical dissection and transplantation of lymph nodes (LN) is a technique that has supported seminal work to study LN function and is useful to investigate resident stromal and endothelial cell biology and their cellular interactions in experimental disease models. Here, we provide a detailed protocol of syngeneic mLN transplantation and report assays to analyze effective mLN engraftment in congenic recipients. Transplanted mLNs allow to study T cell activation and proliferation in preclinical mouse models. Donor mLNs proved viable and functional after surgical transplantation and regenerated blood and lymphatic vessels. Immune cells from the host completely colonized the transplanted mLNs within 7-8 weeks after the surgical intervention. After allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), adoptively transferred allogeneic CD4+ T cells from FVB/N (H-2q) mice homed to the transplanted mLNs in C57BL/6 (H-2b) recipients during the initiation phase of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD). These CD4+ T cells retained full proliferative capacity and upregulated effector and gut homing molecules comparable to those in mLNs from unmanipulated wild-type recipients. Wild type mLNs transplanted into MHCII deficient syngeneic hosts sufficed to activate alloreactive T cells upon allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, even in the absence of MHCII+ CD11c+ myeloid cells. These data support that orthotopically transplanted mLNs maintain physiological functions after transplantation. The technique of LN transplantation can be applied to study migratory and resident cell compartment interactions in mLNs as well as immune reactions from and to the gut under inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions.

Efficacy of Microsurgical Treatment of Primary Lymphedema: A Systematic Review.

Treatment of lymphedema remains a challenging clinical problem. Lymphatic surgery has recently gained momentum as an effective method to treat both early- and late-stage disease. In particular, "physiologic" microsurgical techniques including vascularized lymph node transplant and lymphovenous bypass/anastomosis have been shown to be effective in treating even advanced lymphedema. Most published reports describe techniques and success in secondary lymphedema. Traditionally, physiologic surgery was not believed to be useful in the treatment of primary lymphedema where baseline lymphatic function is abnormal. However, recent studies have shown a benefit in these cases. The objective of this study is to evaluate outcomes and complications of physiologic microsurgical treatment for primary lymphedema. The electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE were searched using key words "primary lymphedema" and "surgery" (also vascularized lymph node transplant, lymphovenous bypass, microsurgery). Only human studies published between 2000 and 2021 were included. Studies that only included ablative or resection surgeries were excluded. A total of 10 studies comprising 254 patients with primary lymphedema who underwent 357 physiologic microsurgical operations were included. Lymphovenous bypass comprised 88% of cases, and in the patients who underwent vascularized lymph node transplant, all but 1 flap survived. Regardless of type of operative intervention, all studies showed a statistically significant improvement in lymphedema, through either reduction in limb circumference or edema volume or improvement in quality of life. Physiologic lymphatic surgery has shown success and improvement for patients with primary lymphedema. Based on current literature, physiologic surgical treatment of primary lymphedema should be considered when treating this patient population.

Donor defects after lymph vessel transplantation and free vascularized lymph node transfer: A comparison and evaluation of complications.

BACKGROUNDSecondary lymphedema after surgical interventions is a progressive, chronic disease that is still not completely curable. Over the past years, a multitude of surgical therapy options have been described.AIMTo summarize the single-center complications in lymph vessel (LVTx) and free vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT).METHODSIn total, the patient collective consisted of 87 patients who were undergoing treatment for secondary leg lymphedema during the study period from March 2010 to April 2020. The data collection was performed preoperatively during consultations, as well as three weeks, six months and twelve months after surgical treatment. In the event of complications, more detailed follow-up checks were carried out. In total n = 18 robot-assisted omental lymph node transplantations, n = 33 supraclavicular lymph node transplantations and n = 36 Lymph vessel transplantations were analyzed. An exemplary drawing is shown in Figure 1. A graphical representation of patient selection is shown in Figure 2. Robotic harvest was performed with the Da Vinci Xi Robot Systems (Intuitive Surgical, CA, United States).RESULTSIn total, 11 male and 76 female patients were operated on. The mean age of the patients at study entry was: omental VLNT: 57.45 ± 8.02 years; supraclavicular VLNT: 49.76 ± 4.16 years and LVTx: 49.75 ± 4.95 years. The average observation time postoperative was: omental VLNT: 18 ± 3.48 mo; supraclavicular VLNT: 14.15 ± 4.9 and LVTx: 14.84 ± 4.46 mo. In our omental VLNT, three patients showed a slight abdominal sensation of tension within the first 12 postoperative days. No other donor side morbidities occurred. No intraoperative conversion to open technique was needed. Our supraclavicular VLNT collective showed 10 lift defect morbidities with one necessary surgical intervention. In our LVTx collective, 12 cases of donor side morbidity were registered. In one case, surgical intervention was necessary.CONCLUSIONConcerning donor side morbidity, robot-assisted omental VLNT is clearly superior to supraclavicular lymph node transplantation and LVTx.

Outcomes of Vascularized Lymph Node Transplantation for Treatment of Lymphedema

A growing body of evidence supports the efficacy of surgical treatments for lymphedema. This study reports the outcomes of vascularized lymph node transplantation (VLNT) for the treatment of patients with lymphedema compared with maximal conservative treatment alone. Consecutive patients undergoing VLNT to treat primary and secondary lymphedema affecting the upper or lower extremities were included. All patients were optimized preoperatively with conservative therapy. Demographic and treatment information was collected, and outcomes data were electronically captured prospectively; descriptive statistics were performed. There were 134 patients included that had achieved maximal reductions by conservative therapy preoperatively. This series included jejunal mesenteric (n= 25), groin (n= 43), lateral thoracic (n= 31), omental or right gastroepiploic (n= 21), and submental (n= 14) VLN flaps. At 24 months postoperatively, there were significant reductions in limb volume change (mean [SD] 45.7% [8.7%]; p= 0.002) LDex score (mean [SD] 59.8% [8.7%]; p < 0.001), Lymphedema Life Impact Scale score (mean [SD] 61.6% [5.9]; p < 0.001), and cellulitis episodes (97.9%; p < 0.001). At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, limb volume change was significantly greater for the upper than the lower extremity, otherwise outcomes were similar. There were no flap losses and overall outcomes were similar between the different VLN flap types. Treatment of lymphedema using VLNT resulted in progressive, significant reductions in limb volume, bioimpedance spectroscopy measurements of extracellular fluid, and episodes of cellulitis, with improved patient-reported outcomes and limb function measures compared with maximal conservative therapy alone. The complication rate was low and there were no significant outcomes differences between the VLNT types.

Spotlight in Plastic Surgery: April 2021.

Spotlight in Plastic Surgery: April 2021.

Breasts and Lymphatic Tissue ; A Literature Review

The breasts begin to grow from the sixth week of the embryo in the form of ectodermal thickening along the milk line that lies from the axilla to the middle of the groin (inguinal). The blood supply comes from the internal mammary artery, which is a branch of A. subclavian. Additional bleeding originated from A. axillary through the branches of A. thoracic lateral, A. thoraco dorsalis, and A. thoraco acromialis. The return of blood through the veins follows the passage of the artery to the internal mammary V. and the axillary vein branches to the superior V. kava. Lymph capillaries are located under the epidermis with a diameter between 20 and 70 mm. Lymphangion, as a pacemaker is limited by valves and lymphatic endothelial cells, will initiate an intrinsic pulsation of lymph fluid flow. Extrinsic factors such as contraction of the skeletal muscles, massage, increased hydrostatic pressure by postural gravity can also affect the lymphatic flow rate.5,6 These lymphatic vessels run on the lateral side of the upper arm, parallel to the cephalic vein and drain into the supraclavicular nodes. 4 The LVC is an important anatomical structure for the physiology of vascular lymph node transplantation (VLNT) .8 Lymph vessels in the upper limb travel axially from the fingers to the back of the hand and make direction to the elbow, travel to the anteromedial area at the top of the arm and connect to the axillary lymph nodes in the lateral area. An alternative route directly to the supraclavicular node can be identified. These lymphatic vessels run on the lateral side of the upper arm, parallel to the cephalic veins and drain into the supraclavicular nodes. 4 The LVC is an important anatomical structure for the physiology of vascular lymph node transplantation (VLNT) .8An alternative route directly to the supraclavicular node can be identified. These lymphatic vessels run on the lateral side of the upper arm, parallel to the cephalic veins and drain into the supraclavicular nodes. 4 An alternative route directly to the supraclavicular node can be identified. These lymphatic vessels run on the lateral side of the upper arm, parallel to the cephalic veins and drain into the supraclavicular nodes.

Combined deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap with vascularized groin lymph node transplant for treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema.

For survivors of breast cancer lymphedema is their greatest survivorship burden. Modern surgical techniques to treat lymphedema are effective at reducing limb volume, symptoms of lymphedema, episodes of cellulitis, and improving patient quality of life. Physiologic procedures, including lymphovenous bypass (LVB) and vascularized lymph node transplant (VLNT), restore physiological lymphatic function within the affected extremity. In patients with post-mastectomy breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema that desire breast reconstruction, microvascular abdominal flap breast reconstruction can be combined with superficial inguinal (groin) VLNT to provide breast reconstruction and treatment of lymphedema in a single operation. This article reviews the indications, preoperative assessment, surgical technique, outcomes, and tips and pearls for performing this procedure.

Combined Approach to Surgical Treatment of Lymphedema.

Physiologic surgical interventions, including lymphovenous bypass (LVB) and vascularized lymph node transplant (VLNT), are increasingly being used to treat lymphedema. LVB has been shown to be effective in improving the severity of lymphedema, particularly for patients with still-functional superficial lymphatic vessels that can be identified for bypass. However, in many patients, there is a paucity of functional lymphatic vessels for bypass and, thus, they are not ideal candidates for LVB alone. Unlike LVB, VLNT does not depend on the presence of functioning lymphatic vessels, but the effects of VLNT are delayed, as the proposed mechanisms of action require more time for optimal function. The author has offered a combined approach to microsurgical treatment of lymphedema for both the upper and lower extremities. Simultaneous VLNT and LVB are safe and effective for patients with both early and advanced stages of primary and secondary lymphedema. Our experience shows that a majority of patients can expect some long-term improvement, in both overall limb volume and quality of life, after surgical intervention with LVB and/or VLNT.

Surgical Approaches to the Prevention and Management of Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema

Upper extremity lymphedema is a much-feared complication of breast cancer treatment leading to significant impairments in patients’ quality of life. The mainstay of treatment for this debilitating chronic disease has been non-surgical modalities, namely complete decongestive therapies. Surgical treatment of lymphedema has emerged as an option for patients who have exhausted these conservative measures and consists of both physiologic procedures (vascularized lymph node transplant and lymphovenous bypass) which aim to reduce the burden of lymphatic fluid and reductive procedures to remove excess soft tissue. Opinions vary among surgeons regarding the appropriate surgical indications in patients with different stages of lymphedema for each type of surgery, as well as the optimal donor site for lymph node transplant, and recent studies are beginning to address these questions. Additionally, there is growing data regarding the benefits of preventative lymphatic surgery at the time of axillary lymph node dissection, as well as the cost effectiveness of this approach. Surgical approaches for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer–related lymphedema are gaining popularity as a means of improving patients’ quality of life. There is an expanding body of literature demonstrating the effectiveness of these surgical procedures in terms of reduction in arm circumference, decreased cellulitis incidence, and overall quality of life, as well as emerging evidence of their cost effectiveness.

Simultaneous Ipsilateral Vascularized Lymph Node Transplantation and Contralateral Lymphovenous Anastomosis in Bilateral Extremity Lymphedema with Different Severities

BackgroundExtremity lymphedema can occur bilaterally with different severities on each side. The aim of this study is to investigate the treatment outcomes of such patients with bilateral extremity lymphedema of different severities.Patients and MethodsBetween 2013 and 2017, patients with bilateral extremity lymphedema of different severities according to the Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging (TLS) system were retrospectively reviewed. Ipsilateral vascularized lymph node transplantation (VLNT) was indicated in TLS total obstruction and contralateral lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) in TLS partial obstruction with patent lymphatic vessels on indocyanine green lymphography. Outcomes were assessed using circumference improvement, frequency of cellulitis, and lymphedema-specific quality of life (LYMQoL) questionnaires.ResultsA total of 10 patients with bilateral extremity lymphedema with median age of 63 (range 12–75) years were included. The median symptom duration of the lymphedematous limb was 60 (range 36–168) months and 12 (range 1–60) months in the VLNT and LVA group, respectively (p < 0.05). At average follow-up of 37.5 (range 14–58) months, the average limb circumference improvement was 2.4 (range − 3.3 to 7.8) cm in the VLNT group and 2.3 (range 0.3–7) cm in the LVA group (p = 1). The median episodes of cellulitis decreased significantly from 4 to 0.5 and 1 to 0 times/year in the VLNT and LVA group, respectively (p = 0.02, p = 0.06). The overall LYMQoL score improved from 4.5 preoperatively to 7.5 postoperatively (p < 0.01).ConclusionsLimb-specific VLNT and LVA selected by TLS effectively treated bilateral extremity lymphedema with different severities.

Re-augmentation of the Axilla Using a Turn-Over Flap - a New Approach for the Surgical Treatment of Secondary Lymphedema After Breast Cancer.

Introduction Scarring and volume reduction of the axillary space resulting in persistent lymphedema is a side effect of axillary treatment in breast cancer patients. The aim of this paper is to describe the reduction of lymphedema achieved with a turnover flap. Materials and Methods Between October 2016 and May 2018, five patients with grade 2 lymphedema following breast cancer therapy underwent reconstructive surgery with a turnover flap. Complete excision of the symptomatic axillary scar tissue followed by re-augmentation using a turnover flap was performed. Subsequently, all patients underwent breast reconstruction using a distant flap reconnected to the thoracodorsal vessels. The circumference of both arms, quality of life and pain were measured before and after surgery. Results An average reduction in pain in the ipsilateral arm from 6 to 1 on the numerical scale as well as an improvement in quality of life (2.8 vs. 7.0) was observed. A decrease in lymphedema especially in the upper arm was identified. No complications such as secondary bleeding, infections or flap loss were observed. Conclusion Complete removal of the axillary scar tissue after breast cancer treatment and re-augmentation of the axilla with a turnover flap results in a reduction in ipsilateral lymphedema and an improvement in pain and quality of life. We interpret these findings as a result of the physiological re-alignment of the lymphatic vessels combined with a lymph node-containing local transposition flap. Therefore, re-augmentation with a turnover flap could be an effective non-microsurgical alternative to lymph node transplantation.