Purpose: Vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) entails the autologous relocation of lymph nodes to a lymphedematous region of the body, whereas lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) creates a direct bypass between the lymphatic and venous system. Both techniques are meant to lastingly bolster the local lymphatic drainage capacity. This study compared safety and effectiveness of VLNT and LVA in patients with chronic breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from our encrypted database composed of patients with chronic BCRL who were treated with either VLNT or LVA and had a minimum follow-up of two years. Patient-specific variables analyzed included pre- and postoperative arm circumferences, lymphedema stages and postoperative complications. Results: A total of 105 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 96 patients demonstrated a complete follow-up period of two years. The VLNT group displayed larger preoperative circumferential measurements, evident in both in the isolated examination of the affected arm, as well as when adjusted for the contralateral unaffected arm. Significant reduction in arm volume was achieved by both groups. However, VLNT demonstrated superior relative reduction rates than LVA, neutralizing any significant arm size disparities after 24 months. Surgery duration was slightly longer for VLNT than LVA. Postoperative complications, predominantly minor, were exclusively observed in the VLNT group. Conclusions: Both VLNT and LVA offer significant improvement for patients suffering from chronic BCRL. VLNT shows an even greater potential for improvement in more severe cases of BCRL, but involves a higher risk for (mostly minor) complications.

Purpose: Microsurgical reconstruction, including vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) and lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA), have emerged as promising treatment options for chronic breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Despite their clinical relevance, the precise timelines for patient improvement following these interventions remain rather unexplored. Therefore, the goal of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes and improvement patterns over time of VLNT versus LVA to lay open potential differences and aid in personalized counseling of future patients. Methods: A prospectively maintained, encrypted database was analyzed for patients with chronic BCRL treated with either VLNT or LVA with a minimum follow-up of one year. Patient-specific variables, such as body weight and circumferential arm measurements at distinct locations on both arms were documented preoperatively and on regular postoperative outpatient follow-ups. Results: This study comprised 112 patients, of which 107 patients fully completed the one-year follow-up period. Both VLNT and LVA achieved significant arm size reductions. LVA showed an early peak in effectiveness within the first three months, followed by a subsequent decrease and eventual stabilization. Contrarily, VLNT exhibited a distinct pattern with two significant peaks at three and eighteen months. Conclusions: VLNT and LVA are both effective in long-term lymphedema management, yet they demonstrate marked differences in the timing of improvement. VLNT shows a delayed but more durable response, in contrast to the greater but shorter-lasting surge in effectiveness achieved by LVA. Interestingly, VLNT demonstrates an earlier onset of therapeutic impact than previously understood.

Neurolymphatic dysfunction has been linked to cognitive decline and implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Despite its growing recognition, the potential role of pharmacological or surgical neurolymphatic modulation remains poorly understood. This review summarizes current evidence on the neurolymphatic system’s anatomy, physiology and its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases. It also examines emerging pharmacological and lymphatic reconstructive techniques. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, yielding 187 studies related to the neurolymphatic system. Studies were screened for the following topics: (1) Anatomy and physiology of the neurolymphatic system, (2) The association between neurolymphatic dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases, (3) Pharmacological and (4) Microsurgical neurolymphatic modulation. Current evidence suggests that the neurolymphatic system facilitates drainage of interstitial and cerebrospinal fluid to the deep cervical lymph nodes. Preclinical models suggest that enhancing their clearance may promote the clearance of neurotoxic proteins and potentially improve cognitive function. Scientific evidence on neurolymphatic modulation in neurodegenerative diseases is scarce. Both pharmacological and microsurgical modulatory techniques remain experimental approaches for neurodegenerative diseases, with a significant potential to improve patients’ quality of life. However, further research is warranted to establish their safety, feasibility, and efficacy. The current knowledge gaps underscore the need for a detailed mapping of the neurolymphatic pathways, preclinical evaluation, and translational interdisciplinary trials.

Soft tissue calcifications frequently cause debilitating pain and functional impairments, considerably affecting patients’ quality of life. As they are rare entities, evidence remains sparse, especially regarding treatment effectiveness and recurrence rates. While both pharmacological and surgical treatments may alleviate symptoms, complete resection is currently believed to prevent long-term recurrence of deposits. To improve understanding and raise awareness for soft tissue calcifications, the goal of this study was to review the current state of treatment and to compare benefits and possibilities of flap reconstruction versus simple excision in improving quality of life. Furthermore, we include a successful case report of complete resolution of symptoms following quadruple perforator flap reconstruction. By systematic literature review, studies published in MEDLINE between 1980 and 2024 reporting on surgical treatment and outcome of soft tissue calcifications were included, in addition to a detailed description of our case report. A total of 53 studies reporting on 197 patients with soft tissue calcifications were included. Simple surgical excision was the most commonly (85.9%) employed procedure, demonstrating a substantial recurrence rate of 13.3%. In contrast, no patients who underwent radical excision experienced recurrence. Dermal matrix grafts and flap reconstruction were successfully used in patients requiring substantial tissue coverage, highlighting their value in complex defect reconstruction following radical excision. The combination of complete surgical resection and flap reconstruction reduces recurrence rates and improves postoperative outcomes and quality of life of these patients, supporting early radical surgical intervention as the gold standard treatment for soft tissue calcifications.

Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is a debilitating disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) and vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) are microsurgical techniques known to improve lymphatic drainage capacity. Despite their promising outcomes in treating upper extremity lymphedema, their effectiveness in the lower extremity remains inadequately studied, leaving a critical knowledge gap. Patients who underwent unilateral VLNT or LVA for LLL between January 2015 and December 2023 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Data were collected prospectively and required a minimum postoperative follow-up of one year for inclusion. Leg circumferences were measured at regular follow-up intervals, enabling a comparative analysis of their temporal profiles. Out of the 188 patients evaluated, 151 met the inclusion criteria, among them 123 (81.5%) underwent LVA and 28 (18.5%) VLNT. Although LVA demonstrated rapid improvements within the first three months after surgery, VLNT displayed a slower but steady increase in effectiveness throughout the one-year follow-up period, gradually narrowing the gap in effectiveness between the two techniques over time. Two postoperative complications occurred in the VLNT group, whereas no complications were observed in the LVA group. LVA demonstrates greater short-term improvements, independent of the number of anastomoses performed, whereas VLNT exhibits more gradual improvements over time.

Background: Omalizumab is recommended as adjunctive therapy for antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). However, its long-term effectiveness is understudied. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) have shown prognostic value in cancer, strokes, and other diseases. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of omalizumab in CSU patients while investigating potential associations of SII and SIRI with the drug survival of omalizumab. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using patient data from the electronic hospital database, including patients with CSU treated with omalizumab between January 2018 and May 2021. Drug survival curves were visualized using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. and Cox regression was utilized to assess potential associations. Results: A total of 109 CSU treated with omalizumab at the University Hospital of Zurich were included. The mean drug survival was 13.6 ± 10.9 months. The mean SII and SIRI were 796.1 ± 961.3 and 2.1 ± 3.1, respectively. The multivariate model revealed that SIRI (p = 0.098) was a more robust predictor of omalizumab’s drug survival than SII (p = 0.367), while concurrent autoimmune disease or baseline immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels showed no significant impact. Conclusion: This study suggests the potential utility of SIRI as a superior predictive indicator for omalizumab’s drug survival in CSU patients compared to SII. Concomitant autoimmune disease or baseline IgE levels did not significantly affect the drug’s effectiveness.