Causes of lymphostasis of the legs and arms, symptoms, treatment, prevention, risks

Causes of lymphostasis of legs and hands, symptoms, treatment

Lymphostasis is a malfunction of the lymphatic system, when the movement of lymph in the vessels is disturbed and it is retained in the tissues. Vascular surgeons deal with lymphostasis of the lower limbs, hands and other parts of the body.

Classification

Depending on the causes, primary and secondary lymphostasis are distinguished.

In the first case, the pathology is formed due to failure of intrauterine development of the lymphatic system. These are the following abnormalities of the development of these vessels:

hypoplasia – their underdevelopment, due to which lymphostasis of the upper limbs is formed;
agenesis - complete absence;
obstruction - blockage;
insufficiency of valves.

Features of primary lymphostasis - with it:

one or both limbs may be affected;
manifestations are already manifested in children, and increase in adolescents.

Secondary lymphostasis occurs against the background of some pathologies. It can occur at any age. Most often, it is detected on the side of one limb.

Also, lymphostasis is classified by stages of development:

first – there is an unexpressed transitory swelling of tissues;
the second - swelling is irreversible;
third – a massive tissue swelling develops in the form of elephantiasis, or lymphedema.

Lymphedema is mainly detected in women (in particular, it is lymphostasis of the hand after removal of the mammary gland). If lymphedema was formed in the age category of 15-30 years, it is its juvenile form, after 30 it is late.

Causes of lymphostasis of the legs, hands and other parts of the body

The causes of primary lymphostasis are disorders of intrauterine development of the fetus. There are many reasons for the secondary form. A failure in lymphatic circulation can be observed in the following diseases and pathological conditions:

heart failure;
glomerulonephritis and other kidney pathologies (causes of leg lymphostasis);
hypoproteinemia – lack of protein in the blood;
arteriovenous fistulas – pathological passages between arteries and veins;
lymphadenitis – inflammation of the lymph nodes;
lymphangitis – inflammation of lymphatic vessels;
extended mastectomy in women - removal of the mammary gland (lymphostasis of the hand occurs after mastectomy);
cancerous impression of the prostate gland in men.

Symptoms

The main clinical sign of lymphostasis is tissue swelling. Its severity depends on the severity of the pathology.

Easy degree

Characteristics of swelling:

it appears systematically;
more visible in the evening, disappears in the morning;
intensifies if a person is in one position (sitting or standing).

Middle degree

Characteristics of fabrics:

swelling does not disappear;
skin is compacted, becomes taut like a sail;
after pressing on the fabric, a dent remains, which "straightens out" slowly;
the limb gets tired after a slight load (one of the main symptoms of lymphostasis after surgery).

Severe degree

The following is observed:

swelling is pronounced;
the limb loses its normal contours;
ulcers, eczema appear on the skin.

Diagnostics. Identifying the causes of lymphostasis of the upper limbs

If the pathology has affected the upper limbs, the organs of the chest cavity are examined, if the lower limbs are affected - the organs of the abdominal cavity, as well as the pelvis.

In order to specify in more detail the place where the lymphatic block has developed, the following are performed:

lymphography;
lymphoscintiography;
computed tomography;
magnetic resonance imaging;
bacteriological examination (practiced in case of pyelonephritis of the lower leg with lymphostasis and other infectious complications).

It is necessary to find out whether the swelling occurred due to lymphostasis or venous diseases. In the second case, these are the following pathologies:

thrombosis (clogging) of deep veins;
PTFS - postthrombophlebitic syndrome;
varicose disease of the vessels of the lower extremities.

Treatment

How to treat lymphostasis of the chest, legs, hands and other organs and tissues? The basis of therapy:

adherence to a special diet with salt restriction;
wearing special compression (squeezing) knitwear;
hardware pneumocompression;
physiotherapeutic methods - in particular, magnetic and laser therapy, hydromassage;
massage for lymphedema of legs and hands.

Drug therapy includes the use of the following drugs:

phlebotonics;
enzymes;
angioprotectors;
immunostimulants.

If conservative treatment did not help, surgical methods of treatment are used, thanks to which they ensure effective outflow of lymph from the tissues.

If significant elephantiasis has developed, radical operations are performed. Among them is the so-called tunneling for draining stagnant lymph.

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