Azerbaijani surgeons unlock new milestone with complex transplant surgery

Azerbaijani surgeons have successfully performed the first vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) in the country, marking a significant milestone for local doctors' reconstructive microsurgery capabilities.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Health said the pioneering procedure was carried out at the Aziz Aliyev Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors, as Caliber.Az reports.

The operation is used to treat chronic lymphedema, particularly swelling of the upper limb that commonly develops after breast cancer surgery involving the removal of lymph nodes.

During the procedure, surgeons harvested healthy lymph nodes together with their accompanying blood vessels from the patient's parascapular region in the upper back before transplanting them into the armpit area.

Using advanced microsurgical techniques, the medical team connected blood vessels measuring less than one millimetre in diameter, fully restoring blood circulation to the transplanted tissue.

According to the Ministry of Health, vascularized lymph node transfer helps restore lymphatic drainage, stimulates the formation of new lymphatic vessels, and improves the flow of lymphatic fluid. These effects can significantly reduce swelling, lower the risk of recurrent infections, decrease patients' dependence on compression therapy, and improve overall quality of life.

The procedure is intended for patients with stage II or III chronic lymphedema whose condition has not responded sufficiently to conservative treatment, as well as for those with severe lymphatic vessel damage or recurrent skin infections.

By Nazrin Sadigova