ARTIFICIAL DURA FILM FOR FEMORAL VESSEL COVERAGE AFTER INGUINOFEMORALLYMPHADENECTOMY

Eleven patients undergoing inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for carcinom a of the vulva had the femoral vessels covered with Dura Film (Codman, Randolph, MA); a total of 21 groins were explored. The Dura Film was sutured to the inguinal ligament, sartorius muscle fascia, and adducto r longus fascia. Nine of the 21 groins became infected with 3 of these breaking down; each of these 3 required removal of the Dura Film to a chieve satisfactory healing. One patient developed a unilateral inflam matory groin mass requiring surgical removal of the Dura Film. One pat ient developed a chronic draining sinus that required surgical interve ntion. Seven groins developed lymphocysts. The morbidity Was high with 9 of the 11 patients experiencing complications. Coverage of the femo ral vessels with Dura Film after inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy is not an effective alternative to human dura mater or sartorius muscle tran splant. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.