Bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema before and after lymphaticovenular anastomosis

Objective: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as a measure of lymphedema has been gaining popularity because of its measurement simplicity and noninvasiveness. This study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of BIA for assessment of the outcomes of lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema.Methods: This study involved 25 patients with unilateral breast cancer-related lymphedema who underwent LVA. Segmental multifrequency BIA and conventional circumferential volume measurement were performed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively from June 2018 to June 2021 at Hiroshima University Hospital International Center for Lymphedema. The patients' clinicopathological data, operative details, and preoperative and postoperative BIA results were investigated.Results: Segmental multifrequency BIA and circumferential volume measurement were strongly correlated in the lymphedema-affected upper limb both before and after LVA. The interlimb volume, interlimb extracellular water ratio (r = 0.784; P < .001), and interlimb extracellular water/total body water ratio were positively correlated (r = 0.612; P < .01), whereas the phase angle was negatively associated (r = -0.556; P < .01).Conclusions: Segmental multifrequency BIA can be a useful tool for assessing the severity of lymphedema and monitoring the outcomes of LVA. (J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2023;11:404-10.)

Automated summary

This study investigated the effectiveness of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in assessing the outcomes of lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema. The results showed a strong correlation between segmental multifrequency BIA and circumferential volume measurement before and after LVA. Therefore, segmental multifrequency BIA can be a useful tool for evaluating lymphedema severity and monitoring the effectiveness of LVA.