Current Status of the Management for Lymphedema in Asian Countries

[IS-1] Lymphedema Treatment in China-Review and Prospect

^〇Prof. Ningfei Liu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China)

Chronic lymphedema is still Incurable disease with a high disability rate. The prevalence of lymphedema in China is estimated of more than 10 million. Filariasis was the main cause of the lymphedema in the 1950’. Patients were often in advanced stage as they are diagnosed. Surgical procedures as resection of the redundant tissue were the main treatment method, such as the most popular Charles' operation. In addition, in order to treat erysipelas, the village doctors in Fu Jian Province invented oven" made from bricks and heating therapy. Later on Professor Di Sheng Chang in Shanghai developed “heating and baggage” treatment with use of far - infrared oven. Heating therapy showed effect on decreasing the rate of infection and alleviating edema. During the 1970s - 1990s, microscopic surgery for the treatment of lymphedema began to develop in China. In 1988, there were over 800 cases of lymphatic venous anastomosis worldwide. Among them over 300 such cases were reported by Chinese surgeon, microsurgery became very popular among the national surgeons. However microsurgical lymphvenous anastomoses were indicated in many patients, either for early, late, primary or secondary lymphedema. The outcomes of surgical treatment were not very satisfied. Since 2000s CDT has been practiced in China. Combined with traditional Chinese medicine and heating therapy, a comprehensive treatment of lymphedema has been worked out and showed quite effective in Shanghai. The newly developed dynamic MR lymphangiograpy significantly improve the diagnostic level of lymphstatic disease. It shall be of benefit to the surgical as well as conservative treatment of lymphedema."