BACKGROUND Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is a conservative treatment for lymphedema that combines interventions and lifestyle changes. We evaluated the application of CDT after lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) of the lower limb combined with liposuction. METHODS A total of 55 patients who underwent LVA of the lower limb combined with liposuction from January 2021 to July 2022 were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into groups A (n = 24) and B (n = 31) according to whether they adhered to CDT treatment during the 12-month follow-up. Group A was the non-adherence CDT group and Group B was the adherence CDT group. Lower Extremity Lymphedema Index (LELI) and Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability, and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema (Lymph-ICF-LL) were used as prognostic indicators to observe the remission of postoperative lymphedema symptoms in the two groups. RESULTS At 6-month and 12-month follow-up, LELI and the score of Lymph-ICF-LL in group B and group A were lower than before the operation (p < .05). The circumference of the affected limb was reduced, and the quality of life was improved in both groups after the operation. The reduction of LELI and Lymph-ICF-LL in group B was higher than in group A, and the difference was statistically significant (p < .05). CONCLUSION This study preliminarily proves the effectiveness of CDT after LVA of the lower limb combined with liposuction, which can maintain and strengthen the surgical effect. Further, CDT treatment is still needed after the operation, which is necessary to reduce the circumference of the affected limb and improve patients' quality of life.

中文翻译：

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下肢淋巴小静脉吻合术后完全减充血治疗联合吸脂术后的应用回顾性研究[J].

背景完全减充血疗法（CDT）是一种结合干预措施和生活方式改变的淋巴水肿保守治疗方法。我们评估了CDT在下肢淋巴管静脉吻合术（LVA）联合吸脂术后的应用。方法 纳入2021年1月至2022年7月接受下肢LVA联合吸脂术的患者55例。根据12个月随访期间是否坚持CDT治疗，将患者分为A组（n = 24）和B组（n = 31）。A组为非依从性CDT组，B组为依从性CDT组。以下肢淋巴水肿指数（LELI）和下肢淋巴水肿功能、残疾和健康问卷（Lymph-ICF-LL）作为预后指标，观察两组术后淋巴水肿症状的缓解情况。结果 6个月和12个月随访时，B组和A组LELI和Lymph-ICF-LL评分均低于术前（p < .05）。术后两组患者患肢周长均有所减小，生活质量均得到改善。B 组 LELI 和 Lymph-ICF-LL 的减少量高于 A 组，差异有统计学意义 (p < .05)。结论本研究初步证明下肢LVA联合吸脂术后CDT的有效性，可以维持和加强手术效果。此外，术后仍需进行CDT治疗，这是减少患肢周长、提高患者生活质量所必需的。