Surgically induced lymphedema (SIL) – global impact and current treatment options

This webinar aims to present the problems of patients with secondary lymphedema due to cancer surgery around the World and to discuss the possible strategies for raising awareness, prevention and improving outcomes. Nowadays the risk of surgically induced lymphedema can be reduced in many patients with application of the latest knowledge and standards in cancer treatment. Still, there are situations where lymphedema can’t be avoided. Worse is the situation in patients with gynecological cancers or prostate cancer, where SIL is still a major and frequent complication.

The incidence rate of SIL is also higher in countries with less compliance with the international guidelines of treatment of oncological diseases. Once occurred SIL is very difficult to treat and the treatment options are poorly available globally. Some treatment options like transplantation of lymph nodes and lympho-vascular anastomosis have shown effect. Further options, still under study are: implantation of aligned nanofibrillar collagen scaffolds and therapeutic lymphangiogenesis. LIMPRINT is an international study on Lymphoedema IMpact and PRevalence – INTernational Lymphoedema Framework. It aims to investigate the prevalence and severity of lymphedema