Review of Donor Site Complications Among Different Intra-Abdominal Vascularized Lymph Node Free Flaps: Future Tendency of Application Based on Anatomical Considerations

Transfer of lymph node flap (LNF) has become popular in surgical management of lymphedema as a means of providing physiologic lymph drainage. A variety of donor site options have been reported, and their effects are still under investigation, but a consensus is to minimize the donor site complications. Among them, iatrogenic lymphedema is one of the least desirable complications. Therefore, the intra-abdominal options, theoretically free of iatrogenic lymphedema, is getting more accepted. We review the current options and discuss their precautions and indications.