Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a debilitating, usually lifelong burden for breast cancer survivors. For the breast cancer patients receiving axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), the likelihood of BCRL is about 20%. Lymphatico-venous anastomosis (LVA) has been accepted as a method of treating extremity lymphedema. A few studies have mentioned the prophylactic effect of LVA on BCRL. However, there is still lack of a large-scale randomized controlled trial to corroborate its efficacy. Therefore, the goal of this study is to conduct a prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate if immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) with LVA could have a clinically significant effect on the reduction of BCRL occurrence.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
240
Breast cancer patients receive axillary lymph node dissection and immediate lymphatic reconstruction
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan
Arm lymphedema
Occurrence of arm lymphedema
Time frame: Two years
Drainage amount
Drainage amount from operative wounds
Time frame: Two weeks
Seroma or lymphocele
Occurrence of seroma or lymphocele
Time frame: One month
PROM
Patient reported outcome measures by LYMPH-Q Upper Extremity Module
Time frame: Two years
Subclinical lymphedema
Occurrence of subclinical lymphedema
Time frame: Two years
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