Minireviews
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Urol. Nov 24, 2014; 3(3): 310-319
Published online Nov 24, 2014. doi: 10.5410/wjcu.v3.i3.310
Innovative microsurgical treatment of male external genitals lymphedema
Sylvain M Mukenge, Daniela Negrini, Marco Catena, Gianfranco Ferla
Sylvain M Mukenge, Marco Catena, Gianfranco Ferla, Department of Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy
Daniela Negrini, Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria, 22100 Varese, Italy
Author contributions: All authors equally contributed to the paper.
Supported by Department of Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
Correspondence to: Sylvain M Mukenge, MD, Department of Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Vita-Salute University, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy. mukenge.mvunde@hsr.it
Telephone: +39-02-26437805 Fax: +39-02-26437807
Received: April 23, 2014
Revised: July 3, 2014
Accepted: September 6, 2014
Published online: November 24, 2014
Processing time: 210 Days and 12 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Treatment of secondary lymphedema of male external genital organs through invasive standard surgical techniques may be complicated by impairing consequences for the patient and often do not guarantee an efficient long-term outcome. Alternatively, microsurgical suture of lympho-venous anastomoses between lymphatic collectors of the spermatic funiculum efferent to the external iliac chains and the pampiniform plexus tributary to the spermatic vein provides a successful long term treatment of genitals lymphedema and triggers the development of new lymphatic meshes in proximity to the anastomosis area, thus improving lymphedema also in tissues, like lower limbs, supplied by lymphatics emptying into common developed shunts.