Thousands of people followed live on social media, the first ever vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) carried out in the state of Florida. The lymph node transfer was carried out at Orlando Health on Monday.
According to Orlando Health:
· Via Facebook, more than 7,000 people saw the pictures and posts from the surgery
· Via Twitter, Orlando Health tweeted 42 times to their 1,800+ followers
· Via Instagram, Orlando Health posted 29 photos throughout the surgery
· More than 1,200 people read the online blog about the surgery at www.accordingtowinnie.com and more than 200 people followed the surgery LIVE via the blog
The surgical team who performed the transfer consisted of Dr. Richard Klein, who oversees MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Dr. Kenneth Lee and Dr. Jeffrey Feiner.
The patient, Jean Hutchinson, is a breast cancer patient who developed lymphedema in her right arm following breast surgery and radiation. Hutchinson has been living with lymphedema for 18 months, which serves as a daily reminder of her cancer and limits her day-to-day activities.
This microsurgical procedure transfers lymph nodes from one area of the body to another that is affected by a blockage in the lymphatic vessels, also called lymphedema. The surgery is expected to reduce a patient’s symptoms such as swelling and heaviness and relieve their pain and discomfort, which will allow them to use their arms and legs again and resume their daily activities.
Lymphedema affects 3-4 million adults and children in America and is, unfortunately, a common side effect of breast cancer treatment in about 15-20 percent of patients, where lymph nodes have been damaged or removed along with breast tissue (mastectomy) in combination with radiation. Other less common cause of lymphedema can include any cancer where lymph nodes have to be removed as part of treatment or diagnosis, trauma to the lymphatic system, infection and congenital disorders. In third-world countries the most common cause is parasitic infection.
