Bypass Surgery to Prevent Arm Swelling After Lymph Node Removal

This trial is testing whether a procedure called lymphovenous bypass can help prevent lymphedema—painful arm swelling that sometimes happens after lymph node removal surgery. About half of participants will receive the bypass procedure during their standard lymph node removal surgery, while the other half will receive only the standard surgery. Researchers will then follow both groups for 18 months to see if the bypass surgery reduces swelling.

Lymphedema (arm swelling) is a common and difficult side effect for people with advanced breast cancer or melanoma who need their underarm lymph nodes removed. This trial exists to find out whether doing a special bypass procedure at the same time as lymph node removal might prevent this swelling from happening in the first place.