Jessica Hoffmann , Adam Stepniewski , Wolfgang Lehmann , Katharina Jäckle
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Lipoedema is a congenital fat distribution disorder. It leads to a pathological increase in adipose tissue due to a hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the adipocytes. Currently, the disease affects approximately 10% of women. A common treatment of the disease is liposuction to remove the pathologic fat cells.
Patients and Methods
A total of 47 patients (mean age: 62.00 ± 12.96 years) were treated with the conventional tumescent liposuction and 25 patients (mean age of 45.16 ± 12.87 years) with waterjet-assisted liposuction (WAL), a gentle, tissue-conserving method that washes out fat cells. WAL is thought to cause less damage to surrounding tissue than tumescent liposuction and thus, less trauma.
Results
At the postoperative level, the C-reactive protein was significantly (p* = 0.0195) lower after WAL treatment, implying a lower inflammation level than after tumescent liposuction. Also, a decrease of electrolytes such as potassium in the blood serum was observed in some cases. The postoperative potassium level dropped by 0.30 ± 0.24 mmol/l, a value that was significantly lower in WAL-treated patients where the level dropped by 0.47 ± 0.31 mmol/l. The mean fat aspirate using the conventional tumescent method was 3302.13 ± 1345.89 ml and 3727.08 ± 151.96 ml with the WAL treatment.
Conclusions
WAL is a tissue-conserving method that washes out fat cells with less trauma to surrounding tissue as observed with conventional tumescent liposuction. WAL causes a lower inflammation level but higher loss of potassium ions. This latter aspect needs attention after the liposuction treatment.
Trial registration
Waterjet-assisted liposuction reduces inflammation but increases the risk of hypokalemia when compared to conventional tumescent liposuction in patients with lipoedema, DRKS00034711. Registered July 17, 2024 - Retrospectively registered. Trial registration number DRKS00034711.
期刊介绍:
JPRAS An International Journal of Surgical Reconstruction is one of the world''s leading international journals, covering all the reconstructive and aesthetic aspects of plastic surgery.
The journal presents the latest surgical procedures with audit and outcome studies of new and established techniques in plastic surgery including: cleft lip and palate and other heads and neck surgery, hand surgery, lower limb trauma, burns, skin cancer, breast surgery and aesthetic surgery.