The use of subatmospheric pressure dressing therapy to close lymphocutaneous fistulas of the groin

Groin lymphorrhea is an uncommon but serious complication of vascular and cardiac surgery as well as interventional procedures that cannulate the femoral vessels. Treatment options are somewhat controversial. For lymphocutaneous fistulas, a commonly used current modality is early surgical ligation with the assistance of blue-dye staining of the lymphatic anatomy. The purpose of this case series is to give the first description of a new, less invasive, approach using subatmospheric pressure dressing therapy for the treatment of the challenging problem of lymphocutaneous fistulas of the groin. (C) 2000 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons.