Microlymphaticovenous anastomosis for lymphedema of external genitalia in females.

Lymphedema of the female external genitalia is seldom reported and can be psychologically distressing to the patient. On the basis of microlymphaticovenous operations for lymphedema of the extremities, a new microsurgical operation has been developed for treating lymphedema of the female external genitalia and applied clinically in six patients with good results. Edema of the female external genitalia and of the lower part of the abdominal wall has been reduced postoperatively, the chylorrhea has disappeared and the blisters on the vulva have vanished. The operative techniques and the anatomic basis of the operation are described, the six patient histories are illustrated and the correlation between number of anastomoses and quality of results are discussed herein.