On October 11–12, the Almazov Centre hosted the 2nd Lymphology School.
The School was organized by the Almazov Centre, the Russian Society of Angiologists and Vascular Surgeons, the Russian Association of Cardiovascular Surgeons of Russia (Phlebology / Lymphology session), Pirogov Russian Surgical Society (Angiology / Vascular Surgery session), Health Committee of St. Petersburg Government.
According to Olga Fionik, Professor of the Surgical Diseases Chair and chairwoman of the School committee, the School provided theoretical and practical training for surgeons, rehabilitation therapists, physiotherapists and exercise therapists in the advanced methods for the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema and demonstrated the need for a team approach to managing patients with lymphedema.
The first day featured lectures and seminars on two major conditions: lymphedema of extremities and external genitalia. The versatile programme included 5 lectures, 12 seminars and clinical case discussions on the topical issues of today’s lymphology, including various aspects of the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of lymphedema, lymphedema complications and prevention methods.
Dimitrios Dionysiou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Plastic Surgery from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), gave a presentation on the possibilities of microsurgery for the treatment of lymphedema, including lymph node transfer.
The seminars on advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of extremity lymphedema featured discussions on the impaired lymph transport function of the lymphatic system as the mechanism underlying lymphedema, diagnostic algorithms and new approaches to lymphoscintigraphy. The seminars presenting the clinical results achieved by the use of proprietary methods were of particular interest to attendees. The representatives of the AngioCentre medical clinic (Omsk) and Földi Clinic (Freiburg, Germany) shared such experience.
The seminars also presented detailed guidelines on the methods for diagnosis and treatment of genital lymphedema in children, surgical approach to breast cancer and prognosis for post-mastectomy syndrome after surgery as well as the project of clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of post-mastectomy lymphedema.
The second day of the School featured workshops on manual lymph drainage and compression bandaging of the upper and lower limbs.
Also, the School included an exhibition of medical compression hosiery, modern medical equipment and drugs.
The School is followed by the advanced training course where the attendees have an opportunity to practice the skills for the medical treatment of lymphedema under the guidance of the leading specialists from Russia, the Lymphology Clinic of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Földi Clinic for Lymphology (Germany).