My husband has lymphedema in his left leg, as a result of an emergency harvesting of the saphenous vein to repair the hemorraging of a dissecting spinal vein. He has poor collateral circulation, and the surgeons were unable to reconnect the vein ends because too much was taken for the repair. Now the edema seems to be spreading from the calf into the thigh, groin and lower abdomen. Where can we go to seek care for lymphedema, and continuing treatment to prevent recurrence? Can this be fatal?