The lymphatic system is located throughout our body and consists of tubes and ligaments (sometimes also called glands). The lymphatic system has many functions, including the absorption of substances from the tissues or intestines, immune protection against bacteria and other invaders, and waste disposal.
Various problems can directly involve the lymph nodes, while in other cases the lymph nodes will respond to various diseases in the organs adjacent to them. In some cases these ties must be removed.
When should lymph nodes be removed?
Lymph nodes usually appear in clusters in different areas of the body and drain substances from nearby tissues. Because of this, they tend to be the first to be involved in cancerous processes, with malignant cells draining into them.
Removal of the lymph nodes can be performed as part of the treatment of a known malignant disease. In other cases, the removal of the lymph nodes is used for an initial diagnosis, when it is not known whether the lymph node is involved and / or whether there is a nearby malignant disease.
The course of the surgery
The extent of lymph node resection and the location of their resection depends on the initial disease. Breast cancer lymph nodes resection, for example, is usually performed in the armpit area under local anesthesia. In contrast, resection of lymph nodes in the pelvic area (prostate cancer or uterine cancer, for example) may require access through abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The length of the procedure also varies.
Sometimes it is a sample of just the sentinel node - the lymph node closest to the tumor site. This extraction is used for an initial diagnosis, for example in Melanoma, to know if the disease has spread or remains local. Locating the sentinel ligament is done by locally injecting material into the growth and watching the material spread.
Depending on the nature of the surgery, one direct incision is made in the area of the lymph nodes, or several tiny incisions. The involved lymph nodes are found and sent for laboratory examination (pathology) to detect the presence of cancer cells within the tissue.
Preparation before surgery
Depending on the type of surgery and the underlying disease, an appropriate surgical and oncological evaluation must be performed to determine the extent of the surgery, its performance under general or local anesthesia, and the nature of the incision required.
If the operation is performed under general anesthesia, an anesthesiologist must perform an evaluation before the operation. You should be in complete food fast mode as per the instructions of the medical staff.
Recovery after removal of lymph nodes
You can usually return home on the day of surgery. During recovery there may be pain in the surgical area, which can be relieved with the help of appropriate painkillers. Proper hygiene and sanitation should be maintained in the incision area.
Pathology lab results are obtained within 2-3 weeks. You will receive detailed instructions from your doctor on returning to the clinic for follow-up, receiving the biopsy results and continuing your treatment plan.
Possible complications
Removing the lymph nodes can damage lymphatic drainage of the nearby limb and promote the accumulation of edematous fluid (lymphedema). Injury to surrounding nerves during surgery can lead to a feeling of numbness, drowsiness or pain in the area. In addition, there may be bleeding, infection or scarring in the area of surgery.
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