Block Dissection of Cervical Lymph Nodes
Block Dissection of Cervical Lymph Nodes is a type of surgery that involves surgically removing most of the lymph nodes (glands) from a specific part of the body.
Some facts about Block Dissection of Cervical Lymph Nodes:
- Block Dissection of Cervical Lymph Nodes can be performed on the neck, armpit or groin.
- Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system which is made up of vessels, similar to blood vessels and drain away excess fluid from the body.
- From these vessels, fluid drains into lymph nodes which are part of the immune system that help fight against infection, and also filter cancer cells.
- Cancer cells that are present in the lymph nodes in your groin, armpit or neck can be found by various tests including CT scans, fine needle biopsy, sentinel node biopsy surgery.
- The chance of the cancer returning in the same part of the body can be reduced by removing the rest of the lymph nodes before cancer develops in them.
- Block Dissection of Cervical Lymph Nodes is less complicated. It is safer than waiting until cancer develops in the remaining lymph nodes and then removing them.
- Cervical lymph nodes are removed as part of the treatment for head and neck cancers such as those of the skin, oral cavity, pharynx and throat in Cervical lymph node dissection.
Procedure for Block Dissection of Cervical Lymph Nodes:
- General anesthesia is used during the surgery to make you asleep.
- There are 20 to 30 nodes in each armpit, groin or side of neck.
- The surgeon will try to remove as many nodes as they can without causing problems to surrounding blood vessels and nerves
- Scars can occur from the operation depending on which area is operated on.
- The scar runs down behind your ear toward the jaw, then down the neck in a straight line for the neck.
- The scar runs from under your armpit down the inside of your arm for the armpit and it runs from the natural fold in your groin down the front of your leg for the groin.
- You will have a cannula in your hand after the surgery to administered fluid into it and will remain in place until you are eating and drinking sufficiently.
- A bottle drain will be put into the area during the surgery which allows blood to be collected into a bottle and not cause problems under the wound. This drain will remain in place until the drainage settles down.
- The fluid collected in to the bottle will turn from blood to a yellow colored fluid which is lymph fluid and is normal.
- You will have a catheter in place if you have had surgery on your groin. It goes into your bladder, so that when you need to pass urine it is collected in a bag
- There is the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism as the procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic.
- Blood thinning injection will be given to reduce this risk.
- There are the risks of developing an infection, wound breakdown, bruising and permanent scarring as you are having a a cut in the skin.
