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Introduction: Lymphatic complication (LC) after varicose veins (VVs) surgery is an annoying event with a variable frequency in the literature. Method: Retrospective study reviewing all surgeries carried out for VVs from January 2000 to October 2010. Postoperative LC we reported: lymphatic fistula, lymphocele including the minor ones and lymphoedema. Results: During the period studied, 5407 surgical procedures for VVs were performed in 3407 patients (74.7% women) with a mean age of 53.4 years. A postoperative LC occurred in 118 cases (2.2%): lymphocele on limb in 1.3%, inguinal LC (fistula or lymphocele) in 0.7% and a lymphoedema in 0.2%. The population with a LC was older (59.6 vs. 53.3 years, P < 0.05), had a higher frequency of C4-C6 (22.0% vs. 6.5%, P < 0.05), a higher incidence of obesity (31.4% vs. 5.4%, P < 0.05) and was more often treated by a redo surgery or a crossectomy stripping (48.3% vs. 13.4% and 38.1% vs. 21.8%, respectively, P, 0.05). We have observed a dramatic decrease in incidence of LC after January 2004 (1.3% vs. 5.3%, P, 0.05) corresponding to a new surgical practice for the treatment of VVs: stripping, crossectomy and redo surgery at the groin were less frequent (74.6% vs. 7.7%, 74.6% vs. 0.2% and 11.3% vs. 0.1%, respectively, P < 0.05), while isolated phlebectomy was more often performed during this period (78.4% vs. 8.4%, P < 0.05). Conclusion: LC after VVs surgery is not rare but frequently limited to lymphocele on limbs. Older age, more advanced clinical stage and obesity were associated with a higher frequency of LC. A mini-invasive and selective surgery has significantly reduced the occurrence of LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is characterised by diffuse inflammatory proliferation of fibroblasts and the deposition of collagen fibrils throughout the retroperitoneum, especially in perivascular sites. This results in blockage of the ureters and other tubular retroperitoneal structures such as the vasculature and lymphatic channels. Left untreated, it typically follows a progressive and fatal course. The condition responds favourably to tamoxifen and several case reports describe an improvement in renal function on this therapy. This case report describes a subjective and objective functional improvement of lymphoedema secondary to retroperitoneal fibrosis with the use of tamoxifen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]