Vascularized lymph node flaps can survive on venous blood without an arterial inflow: an experimental model describing the dynamics of venous flow using indocyanine green angiography (With video).

This research demonstrated that Type IA, IB, IIA and IIB venous LNFs can retrogradely receive venous blood supply; they can survive, produce a lymphatic recanalization and integrate with the surrounding tissue, despite lymph node structural changes. Our results will improve the understanding of the survival mechanism of venous LNFs and will help researchers to design new studies or lymphatic models and eventually find an alternative procedure for the surgical treatment of lymphedema.