Lymph nodo-venous shunt in the treatment of protein losing enteropathy and lymphedema of leg and scrotum.

Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE) is a syndrome associated with several diseases affecting the gastrointestinal system. Recent comprehensive reviews can be found in eMedicine and Gastroenterology. Treatment by surgery, lympho-venous anastomosis, excision of lymphangiectatic small bowel and gastrectomy and transplantation of the small intestine, depending upon the cause, have all been reported. We obtained a successful result for PLE associated with peripheral lymphedema by combining several sequential operative approaches including lymph nodo- venous shunt in the groin and reduction surgery for edema of the left leg and scrotum.