How to Overcome the technical Consequences of Breast cancer

Supramicroquirurgica The technical developed in Barcelona, which began in Japan in the late 90s, is the only definitive way to reduce this disease with few sequels for patients, as until now could only deal with physiotherapy or rehabilitation, as the lesser evil assures Dr. Efe-Masià reports, with 46 successful interventions to its credit since 2007.

What is lymph edema?

After breast cancer surgery and the removal of lymph nodes under the arm to prevent relapses, between 10 and 20 percent of those affected suffer from lymph edema, or fluid accumulation in the lymphatic system in the subcutaneous fatty tissue. This disease causes swelling, chronic inflammation and fibrosis, as well as weight gain and the non-functionality of the affected limb.

When you remove the lymph, lymph has nowhere to go and accumulates in the subcutaneous fat tissue, so that the tissues change, the arms are so swollen and degenerated joints and muscles. The arm can enlarge up to six times its size; it is hard and loses functionality.This surgery is at the limit of what can be done with existing equipment and with their hands, with the latest technology and with the help of the microscope, something unthinkable ten years ago, and ‘she points out Marcia.

The technique applies only six centers worldwide, including the two public hospitals in Barcelona and the Private Clinic Flat, because it requires a very long learning and experience in microsurgery, highlights Jaime Masiá.

What does the surgery

In the surgery the surgeon selects, through a powerful microscope, lymph channels of the arm to attach them to small veins, ranging from 0.3 to 04 mm, with a twelve suture needles zeros and 50 microns, equivalent a quarter of a hair, an operation that gets results in a significant improvement between 35 and 70 per cent of cases', according to Masi.Each anastomosis operation, as this technique is called, is performed under general anesthesia and usually lasts about four or five hours in Japan, is practiced with partial anesthesia, and patients there are more obedient and quiet and to allow the Dr. Koshima massage them in the middle of the intervention something unthinkable in Europe underlines Marcia.