Elephantiasis

Description:

Elephantiasis (elephantiasis, элефантиаз, элефантиазис) — permanent increase in the sizes of any part of a body (an extremity, a scrotum) due to painful growth (hyperplasia) of skin and hypodermic cellulose which is caused by constant stagnation of a lymph with formation of hypostasis.

Elephantiasis symptoms:

At elephantiasis sick sites of skin become covered by warts and ulcers. In the place of defeat the phenomena of a lymphatic and venous staz, puffiness of fabrics and irritation of connecting fabric are noted. In skin and hypodermic cellulose the hypertrophic processes caused by growth of connecting fabric in skin and intermuscular spaces, and at the same time a bone thickening develop.

The hypertrophy leads to change of a form and volume of bodies, damage of legs which increase is in most cases noted and remind legs of an elephant. From there is a name of a disease. But also other cases are known (in particular, elephantiasis of a scrotum). Emergence and development of an elefantiaz can provoke thrombophlebitis as it creates conditions for spread of an infection in absorbent vessels.

Elephantiasis reasons:

In this case the parasitic nematode — the activator of a brugioz — Brugia malayi is an etiology (English). Other option of a disease — the inborn defect of lymphatic system consisting in obstruction of absorbent vessels or in disturbance of circulation of a lymph flow.

Elephantiasis treatment:

Conservative treatment limfedy has to be complex, consisting from:

1. Manual lymphatic drainage (special massage); 2. Compression bandaging (bandage of low distensibility); 3. Anticongestive motive exercises and respiratory gymnastics (LFK); 4. Occupations in the dry pool; 5. The physical therapy including: - laser therapy - electromagnetic stimulation - a pneumomassage (лимфопресс) according to indications; 6. Medicamentous therapy; 7. Immunocorrective actions.

Today, as 40 years' practice of clinical and scientific research in Europe shows, therapy of lymphatic hypostases by means of a complex of antiedematous actions and a manual lymphatic drainage represents the only possibility of successful treatment of this pathology.

Now most of vascular surgeons refused attempts to recover a lymph drainage by operational methods. Especially it concerns all options primary limfedy when the very tectonics of absorbent vessels is broken. Imposing of a limfovenozny anastomosis and limfonodulovenonozny anastomosis are also ineffective. surgical intervention is justified only in those exceptional cases of a heavy malformation of lymphatic system when special valves for withdrawal of a lymph are implanted or other palliative techniques are used.

The only objective indication for an operative measure is the situation when as a result of an injury the large absorbent vessel suffered.