Arm lymphedema after vascularized lymph node harvest following Covid-19 vaccination

Tabea Breckwoldt; Pia Niggemann; Lisanne Grünherz; Andrea Weinzierl; Nicole Lindenblatt

doi:10.1080/23320885.2024.2342332

Arm lymphedema after vascularized lymph node harvest following Covid-19 vaccination

Case Reports Plast Surg Hand Surg. 2024 Apr 17;11(1):2342332. doi: 10.1080/23320885.2024.2342332. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Tabea Breckwoldt¹, Pia Niggemann¹, Lisanne Grünherz¹, Andrea Weinzierl¹, Nicole Lindenblatt¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Abstract

There is evidence that COVID-19 vaccines may affect the lymphatic system. We report a case of a 40-year-old female who had undergone lymph node transfer for treating primary lymphedema of the legs. Six months later, the patient developed lymphedema of the right arm closely related to mRNA vaccination against COVID-19.

Keywords: Covid- 19; Donor site lymphedema; Lymph node harvest; Lymphedema; Vascularized lymph node transfer; mRNA vaccination.

Publication types

Case Reports