Management of thoracic duct injuries after oesophagectomy

Outcomes of Chylothorax Nonoperative Management After Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Chylothorax after thoracic surgery is a severe complication with high morbidity and mortality rate of 0.10 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06 - 0.02). There is no agreement on whether nonoperative treatment or early reoperation should be the initial intervention. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the conservative approach to treat chyle leakage after cardiothoracic surgeries.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in PubMed®, Embase, Cochrane Library Central, and LILACS (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde) databases; a manual search of references was also done. The inclusion criteria were patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery, patients who received any nonoperative treatment (e.g., total parenteral nutrition, low-fat diet, medium chain triglycerides), and studies that evaluated chylothorax resolution, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, infection, morbidity, and mortality.

CENTRAL MESSAGE

Nonoperative treatment for chylothorax after cardiothoracic procedures has significant hospital stay, morbidity, mortality, and reoperation rates.

RESULTS

Twenty-two articles were selected. Pulmonary complications, infections, and arrhythmia were the most common complications after surgical procedures. The incidence of chylothorax in cardiothoracic surgery was 1.8% (95% CI 1.7 - 2%). The mean time of maintenance of the chest tube was 16.08 days (95% CI 12.54 - 19.63), and the length of hospital stay was 23.74 days (95% CI 16.08 - 31.42) in patients with chylothorax receiving nonoperative treatment. Among patients that received conservative treatment, the morbidity event was 0.40 (95% CI 0.23 - 0.59), and reoperation rate was 0.37 (95% CI 0.27 - 0.49). Mortality rate was 0.10 (95% CI 0.06 - 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Nonoperative treatment for chylothorax after cardiothoracic procedures has significant hospital stay, morbidity, mortality, and reoperation rates.

Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Management of Chyle Leak Following Esophagectomy for Cancers

This Delphi exercise aimed to gather consensus surrounding risk factors, diagnosis, and management of chyle leaks after esophagectomy and to develop recommendations for clinical practice.

Prophylactic ligation of the opacified thoracic duct in minimally invasive esophagectomy - feasibility and safety

BACKGROUND

Chyle leak is a rare but morbid complication of esophagectomy. We assessed the feasibility of visualization and prophylactic ligation of the opacified thoracic duct (TD) after administration of 50 ml of olive oil.

METHODS

This prospective single center study considered all patients with carcinoma of the middle and lower thirds of the thoracic esophagus including the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), managed from January 2018 to December 2019, for inclusion. All patients underwent McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy. After anesthesia and endotracheal intubation, 50 ml of olive oil was administered through a nasogastric (NG) tube. During thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization, the opacified thoracic duct was identified and ligated using Weck Hem-o-lok clips immediately above the diaphragmatic hiatus. Postoperatively, the nature, volume, and triglyceride levels of the fluid from the chest drain were recorded.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were assessed for inclusion and eventually, 33 were enrolled. The median age of the study population was 55 years, and there were 20 males. The tumor site was the lower esophagus in 24 (72.7%) patients. The most common histolopathological finding was squamous cell carcinoma (97%). The opacified thoracic duct could be identified and ligated in 31 (93.9%) patients. The median duration from the administration of olive oil to the ligation of the thoracic duct was 100 min. The median chest drain output and triglyceride levels on postoperative day (POD) one were 250 ml and 48 mg% respectively. No patient developed postoperative chylothorax.

CONCLUSION

Opacification and visualization of the thoracic duct during thoracoscopy can be aided by administering olive oil. Ligation of this opacified duct is feasible and safe.

Side-to-side esophagogastric anastomosis for minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy: operative technique and short-term outcomes

Totally minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy (TMIIL) is associated to lower rate of post-operative complication, decreases length of hospital stay and improves quality of life compared to open approach. Nevertheless, adaptation of TMIIL still proceeds at slow pace, mainly due to the difficulty to perform the intra-thoracic anastomosis and heterogeneity of surgical techniques. We present our experience with TMIIL utilizing a stapled side-to-side anastomosis. We retrospectively evaluated 36 patients who underwent a planned TMIIL from January 2017 to September 2020. Esophagogastric anastomoses were performed using a 3-cm linear-stapled side-to-side technique. General features, operative techniques, pathology data and short-term outcomes were analyzed. The median operative time was 365 min (ranging from 240 to 480 min) with a median blood loss of 100 ml (50–1000 ml). The median overall length of stay was 13 (7–64) days and in-hospital mortality rate was 2.8%. Two patients (5.6%) had an anastomotic leak, without need for operative intervention and another patient developed an anastomotic stricture, resolved with a single endoscopic dilation. Chylothorax occurred in three patients; two of these required a surgical intervention. Pulmonary complications occurred in six patients (16.7%). Based on Comprehensive Complications Index (CCI), median values of complications were 27.9 (ranging from 20.9 to 100). The results of our study suggest that TMIIL with a 3-cm linear-stapled anastomosis seems to be safe and effective, with low rates of post-operative anastomotic leak and stricture.

Chyle Leak Following Radical En Bloc Esophagectomy with Two-Field Nodal Dissection: Predisposing Factors, Management, and Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Chyle leak is an uncommon complication following esophagectomy, accounting for significant morbidity and mortality; however, the optimal treatment for the chylothorax is still controversial.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, management, and outcomes of chyle leaks within a specialist esophagogastric cancer center.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancers (adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) between 1997 and 2017 at the Northern Oesophagogastric Unit were included from a contemporaneously maintained database. Primary outcome was overall survival, while secondary outcomes were overall complications, anastomotic leaks, and pulmonary complications.

RESULTS

During the study period, 992 patients underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancers, and 5% (n = 50) of them developed chyle leaks. There was no significant difference in survival in patients who developed a chyle leak compared with those who did not (median: 40 vs. 45 months; p = 0.60). Patients developing chyle leaks had a significantly longer length of stay in critical care (median: 4 vs. 2 days; p = 0.002), but no difference in total length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Chyle leak remains a complication following esophagectomy, with limited understanding on its pathophysiology in postoperative recovery. However, these data indicate chyle leak does not have a long-term impact on patients and does not affect long-term survival.

A Rare Case of Chylothorax after Heart Transplantation

Chylothorax is an exceedingly rare but serious complication of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are essential for a good outcome. Management is similar to that of nontransplant patients, but special attention must be given to patients' nutritional and immunological status. Relevant literature on this topic is limited. We describe our experience in the management of chylothorax after OHT and provide a summary of reported cases of this complication after isolated heart and combined heart/lung transplant.

Mediastinal metastasectomy from a primary germ cell testicular tumour resulting in occult thoracic duct injury and chylothorax

A 22-year-old man underwent mediastinal metastasectomy for a testicular germ cell tumour via median sternotomy. Intraoperatively, the tumour was massive, measuring 88 mm in anterior-posterior (AP) diameter. It was densely adherent to the trachea and aggressive debulking resulted in tracheal injury. Therefore, the patient was kept nil by mouth for 3 days postoperatively and was discharged uneventfully. He represented only 2 days later with a large right-sided chylothorax. His chylothorax was managed conservatively with insertion of an intercostal catheter (ICC) and a low-fat diet. Over the course of 9 days, the ICC drained approximately 5 L of fluid. His admission was further complicated by severe gastroparesis requiring feeding Nasojejunal (NJ) tube placement. The delayed feeding in this case resulted in late detection of the occult thoracic duct injury. This case illustrates that conservative and multidisciplinary management of a postoperative chylothorax from a suspected thoracic duct injury achieves favourable outcomes avoiding further surgical intervention.

The anatomy of the thoracic duct at the level of the diaphragm: A cadaver study

BACKGROUND

Injury and subsequent leakage of unrecognized thoracic duct tributaries during transthoracic esophagectomy may lead to chylothorax. Therefore, we hypothesized that thoracic duct anatomy at the diaphragm is more complex than currently recognized and aimed to provide a detailed description of the anatomy of the thoracic duct at the diaphragm.

BASIC PROCEDURES

The thoracic duct and its tributaries were dissected in 7 (2 male and 5 female) embalmed human cadavers. The level of origin of the thoracic duct and the points where tributaries entered the thoracic duct were measured using landmarks easily identified during surgery: the aortic and esophageal hiatus and the arch of the azygos vein.

MAIN FINDINGS

The thoracic duct was formed in the thoracic cavity by the union of multiple abdominal tributaries in 6 cadavers. In 3 cadavers partially duplicated systems were present that communicated with interductal branches. The thoracic duct was formed by a median of 3 (IQR: 3-5) abdominal tributaries merging 8.3cm (IQR: 7.3-9.3cm) above the aortic hiatus, 1.8cm (IQR: -0.4 to 2.4cm) above the esophageal hiatus, and 12.3cm (IQR: 14.0 to -11.0cm) below the arch of the azygos vein.

CONCLUSION

This study challenges the paradigm that abdominal lymphatics join in the abdomen to pass the diaphragm as a single thoracic duct. In this study, this occurred in 1/7 cadavers. Although small, the results of this series suggest that the formation of the thoracic duct above the diaphragm is more common than previously thought. This knowledge may be vital to prevent and treat post-operative chyle leakage.

Delayed right chylothorax after left blunt chest trauma: a case report

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax is a disease that has various causes such as neoplasm, infection, post-surgery trauma, congenital, and venous thrombosis. In approximately 15% of cases of chylothorax, the exact cause is unknown. We report a case of delayed occurrence of right chylothorax in a patient who had multiple segmental ribs fracture on his left side.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 70-year-old Asian man had a "rollover" accident in which the cultivator he was driving overturned. He presented to our hospital with the main complaint of severe dyspnea. On chest computed tomography, multiple ribs fracture from the first to the eighth rib of the left side of his chest and left-sided hemopneumothorax were presented, but there was no evidence of fracture in the right side of his chest. After closed thoracostomy, an emergency operation for open reduction of fractured ribs was performed. On the fifth postoperative day, tubal feeding was performed. On the next day, a plain chest X-ray image showed pleural effusion of the right side of his chest. After insertion of a small-bore chest tube, 3390 ml of fluid for 24 hours was drained. The body fluid analysis revealed triglycerides levels of 1000 mg/dL, which led to a diagnosis of chylothorax. Although non-oral feeding and total parenteral nutrition were sustained, drain amount was increased on the fifth day. Surgical treatment (thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation and pleurectomy) was performed in the early phase. The right chest tube was removed on the 14th postoperative day after the effusion completely resolved and he was uneventfully discharged.

CONCLUSIONS

In this case, as our patient was in old age and had multiple traumas, surgical treatment for chylothorax needed to be performed in the early phase.

Chlyous leak after radical oesophagectomy: Thoracic duct lymphangiography and embolisation (TDE)-A case report

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An unrecognised iatrogenic thoracic duct chyle leak carries significant morbidity and mortality.

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A case of chylothorax post oesophagectomy, treated by interventional radiology, is described.

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Lymphangiography identified aberrant thoracic ductal anatomy.

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Coiling and embolization following ductal injury is safe, effective and less morbid procedure.

Introduction

Chyle leak after oesophagectomy is highly morbid and may carry significant mortality if treatment is delayed. Identification of the site of leakage and surgery may be plagued by failure.

Presentation of case

We describe a case of chyle leak after oesophagectomy. Lymphangiography revealed the site of chyle leak to be an aberrant duct that would have been difficult to identify surgically. Radiological coiling and embolization successfully treated the leak.

Discussion

The gold standard for treatment of chyle leak or chylothorax after oesophagectomy was a re-operation, either open or throracoscopic, to ligate the thoracic duct. The interventional radiological technique employed in our case was not only efficacious in stopping the leak, but had the added advantage of identifying the site and highlighting the anatomy hence avoiding a morbid reoperation. The literature is reviewed.

Conclusion

The report and review confirm that lymphangiography followed by coiling and embolization for chylothorax post oesophagectomy is safe and effective in a majority of cases.

Low fat-containing elemental formula is effective for postoperative recovery and potentially useful for preventing chyle leak during postoperative early enteral nutrition after esophagectomy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Transthoracic esophagectomy using 3-field lymphadenectomy (TTE-3FL) for esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal surgeries. Early enteral nutrition (EN) for TTE-3FL patients is useful and valid for early recovery; however, EN using a fat-containing formula risks inducing chyle leak. In the present study, we retrospectively examined esophageal cancer patients treated byTTE-3FL and administered postoperative EN to elucidate the validity of lowering the fat levels in elemental formulas to prevent postoperative chyle leak and improve postoperative recovery.

METHODS

A total of 74 patients who received TTE-3FL for esophageal cancer were retrospectively examined. Patients were classified into two groups according to the type of postoperative EN: Group LF patients received a low-fat elemental formula, and Group F patients received a standard fat-containing polymeric formula. The following clinical factors were compared between the groups: EN start day, maximum EN calories administered, duration of respirator use, length of ICU stay, incidence of postoperative infectious complications, use of parenteral nutrition (PN), and incidence of postoperative chyle leak.

RESULTS

Patients in Group LF were started on EN significantly earlier after surgery and they consumed significantly higher maximum EN calories compared to Group F patients (P < 0.01). Duration of respirator use and length of ICU stay were also significantly shorter, and TPN was used significantly less in Group LF compared to Group F (P < 0.05). Postoperative chyle leak was observed in six patients in total (8.1%); five patients in Group F and one patient in Group LF, although there was no significant difference in frequency of chyle leak per patient between Group LF and Group F.

CONCLUSIONS

Early EN using low-fat elemental formula after esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy was safe and valid for postoperative recovery and potentially useful in preventing chyle leak.

Chyle leakage patterns and management after oncologic esophagectomy: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aims to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of chyle leakage after curative oncologic esophagectomy, and the effectiveness of thoracic duct ligation.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study using the medical records of 1514 patients who underwent curative esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between September 1994 and December 2010. Patients whose pleural fluid analysis corresponded to chyle were included, and drainage patterns by different management groups were examined with multilevel models. The chyle leakage patterns during the time before and after duct ligation were also evaluated, adjusting for demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment.

RESULTS

The prevalence of chyle leakage after esophagectomy was 3.8%. The three management groups were as follows: (i) conservative-controlled only with conservative management; (ii) surgical I-duct ligation during the esophagectomy; and (iii) surgical II-duct ligation after the esophagectomy. Pattern analysis determined that drainage of the conservative group was ∼400 mL/day (maximum on postoperative days [POD] = 9.2); drainage of surgical II was ∼1000 mL/day (maximum on POD = 18.1). On average, thoracic duct ligation was performed 18.7 days after the esophagectomy, and drainage significantly decreased after duct ligation (P-value <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a clear pattern of lower chyle leakage with the patients requiring conservative management compared with those requiring surgical management. Active and prompt surgical management needs to be considered in the early postoperative phase for patients with high-output (over 1000 mL/day) chyle leakage after esophagectomy.

Esophagectomy-related thoracic duct injury detected by lymphoscintigraphy with 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-human serum albumin: report of a case

Chylothorax is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of esophagectomy. A 72-year-old man underwent thoracoscopy-assisted subtotal esophagectomy and reconstruction with a gastric tube, through a retrosternal route, after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Chylothorax was detected after starting enteral feeding on postoperative day (POD) 7. Despite conservative therapy such as fasting, total parenteral nutrition, and octreotide administration, massive fluid drainage continued. On POD 19, lymphoscintigraphy with (99m)Tc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-human serum albumin (HSA-D) was performed and the site of leakage was detected at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra. On POD 23, the thoracic duct was ligated, following which the volume of chylothorax decreased. Lymphoscintigraphy 12 days after the reoperation showed no leakage from the thoracic duct. We recommend lymphoscintigraphy with (99m)Tc-HSA-D for locating the chyle leakage site and helping decide about the operative indication.

Spontaneous Resolution of Postoperative Chylothorax Following Surgery for Persistent Right Aortic Arch in Two Dogs

Two young dogs underwent surgical management of a persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) and developed chylothorax postoperatively. In both cases, the surgical procedure and anesthetic recovery were uncomplicated and routine. Following surgery, both patients appeared bright, alert, responsive, and previous signs of regurgitation had resolved. Dyspnea and tachypnea developed 1–2 days postoperatively in each patient, and chylous effusion was detected on thoracocentesis. For each case, a diagnosis of chylothorax was based on cytology and triglyceride concentrations of the aspirated pleural fluid. Similar protocols for monitoring were used in the treatment of each patient’s chylothorax. The duration and volume of chylous effusion production were closely monitored via routine thoracostomy tube aspiration. Both dogs rapidly progressed to recovery with no additional complications. With diligent monitoring, chylothorax secondary to surgical trauma can resolve in a rapid, uncomplicated manner.

Impact of chylothorax on the early post operative outcome after pediatric cardiovascular surgery

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Chylothorax is the accumulation of chyle in the pleural cavity, which usually develops after disruption of the thoracic duct along its intra-thoracic route. In the majority of cases, this rupture is secondary to trauma (including cardio thoracic surgeries). Chylothorax is a potentially serious complication after cardiovascular surgeries that require early diagnosis and adequate management. This study aims to determine the risk factors and the impact of chylothorax on the early postoperative course after pediatric cardiac surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective study of all cases complicated with chylothorax after pediatric cardiac surgery was conducted at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center between January 2007 and December 2009.

RESULTS

There were 1135 cases operated on during the study period. Of these, 57 cases (5%) were complicated by chylothorax in the postoperative period. Thirty patients (54%) were males, while 27 (47%) were females. Ages ranged from 4 to 2759 days. The most common surgeries complicated by chylothorax were the single ventricle repair surgeries (15 cases, 27%); arch repairs (10 cases, 18%); ventricular septal defect repairs (10 cases, 18%); atrioventricular septal defect repairs (7 cases, 12%); arterial switch repair (6 cases, 11%), and others (8 cases, 14%). The intensive care unit (ICU) and the length of hospital stays were significantly longer in the chylothorax group. Additionally, some early postoperative parameters such as incidence of sepsis, ventilation time, and inotropes duration and number were higher in the chylothorax group.

CONCLUSION

Chylothorax after pediatric cardiac surgery is not a rare complication. It occurs more commonly with single ventricle repair and aortic arch repair surgeries, and has a significant impact on the postoperative course and post operative morbidity.

Chylothorax complicating pulmonary resection for lung cancer: effective management and pleurodesis

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax associated with pulmonary resection for lung cancer, although rare, must be considered as a potential complication during thoracic surgery. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of a conservative approach (diet or pleurodesis) to the management of chylothorax.

METHODS

Between January 2000 and December 2010, 3,120 consecutive patients underwent pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection at our institution. Among them, 67 patients with confirmed chylothorax were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Right-sided chylothorax was more common than left-sided chylothorax (p=0.033). All patients were initially treated with nil per os (NPO; n=46) or a low long-chain triglyceride (LCT) diet (n=21). In the NPO group, 24 patients were successfully treated with diet alone and 20 underwent pleurodesis. In the LCT group, 10 patients were successfully treated with diet alone; of the 11 remaining patients, 4 patients improved after NPO. The 7 patients who did not improve with NPO underwent pleurodesis. No significant differences in chest tube output before and after initial treatment, length of stay, or success rate were observed between patients initially treated with NPO and those receiving low LCT. All 32 pleurodeses performed in 27 patients were successful. Two patients underwent surgery without pleurodesis after dietary treatment failure. Postoperative air leakage or drainage for 5 days greater than 21.6 mL/kg were independent risk factors for dietary treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative treatment, including pleurodesis, should be the first choice of treatment for chylothorax complicating pulmonary resection.

Therapeutic effectiveness of diagnostic lymphangiography for refractory postoperative chylothorax and chylous ascites: correlation with radiologic findings and preceding medical treatment

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the therapeutic effect of lymphangiography for refractory postoperative chylothorax and chylous ascites and analyze the relation between the clinical outcomes and radiologic findings or response to the preceding medical treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2004 and June 2012, 14 patients underwent lymphangiography. All patients had been unresponsive to at least two medical treatments for 3-62 days (median, 13.5 days) before lymphangiography. Leaks were classified as major, minor, and undetectable on the basis of radiologic findings including CT and conventional radiography after lymphangiography. The clinical outcomes were correlated with the radiologic findings or the changes of the daily chylous output after the preceding medical treatments.

RESULTS

The leaks were healed in nine of 14 patients (64.3%) by 3-29 days (median, 8 days) after lymphangiography. Healing was achieved for two of seven major leaks, and all of the minor leaks (n=4) and undetectable leaks (n=3) after lymphangiography. The remaining five major leaks were not healed after a median follow-up of 15 days. The daily output decreased more than half after medical treatment in seven of the 14 patients, and the leak was healed in six of these patients (85.7%) by 5-18 days (median, 10 days).

CONCLUSION

Lymphangiography might be useful for the treatment of refractory postoperative chylothorax and chylous ascites.

Treatment options in patients with chylothorax

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax arises when lymphatic fluid (chyle) accumulates in the pleural cavity because of leakage from lymphatic vessels. It is most commonly seen after thoracic surgery (in 0.5% to 1% of cases) and in association with tumors. No prospective or randomized trials have yet been performed to evaluate the available treatment options.

METHOD

This review is based on a selective search of the PubMed database for pertinent publications from the years 1995 to 2013. Emphasis was laid on articles that enabled a comparative assessment of treatment options.

RESULTS

Initial conservative treatment (e.g., parenteral nutrition or a special diet) succeeds in 20% to 80% of cases. When such treatment fails, the standard approach up to the present has been to treat surgically, e.g., with ligation of the thoracic duct, pleurodesis, or a pleuroperitoneal shunt. The success rates of such procedures have ranged from 25% to 95%. Most of the patients undergoing such procedures are severely ill; complication rates as high as 38% have been reported, with mortality as high as 25%. In more recent publications, however, morbidity and mortality were lower. Interventional radiological treatments, such as percutaneous thoracic duct embolization or the percutaneous destruction of lymphatic vessels, succeed in about 70% of cases and lead to healing in up to 80% of cases, even after unsuccessful surgery. The complication rate of percutaneous methods is roughly 3%.

CONCLUSION

Interventional radiological procedures have now taken their place alongside conservative treatment and surgery in the management of chylothorax, although they are currently available in only a small number of centers.

Chylothorax after esophagectomy for cancer: impact of the surgical approach and neoadjuvant treatment: systematic review and institutional analysis

BACKGROUND

Esophagectomy is a challenging operation with considerable potential for postoperative complications, including chylothorax.

METHODS

Because no randomized controlled trial or metaanalysis is available to clarify the incidence of chylothorax in esophageal cancer surgery, the authors analyzed their own institutional data for 1,856 patients and performed a systematic review using the MEDLINE database (9,794 patients) to identify risk factors, compare success rates of therapeutic approaches, and investigate long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

The overall institutional chylothorax rate was 2 % (n = 39). Reoperation was performed for 69 % of the patients. No significant difference was noted between the transthoracic and transhiatal approaches. Regression analysis showed neoadjuvant treatment (odds ratio [OR], 0.302; p = 0.001) and tumor type (OR, 0.304; p = 0.002) to be independent risk factors. The systematic review included 12 studies. Chylothorax occurred for 2.6 % of the patients. Treatment favored reoperation in five studies (70-100 %) and a conservative approach in four studies (58-72 %), with equal mortality rates. No significant difference was found between the transthoracic and transhiatal approaches.

CONCLUSION

Chylothorax rates are low in high-volume centers (2-3 %). No significant difference was noted between the transthoracic and transhiatal approaches. Neoadjuvant treatment and tumor type were shown to be independent risk factors. Treatment concept (reoperation vs conservative treatment) did not affect long-term survival.

Postesophagectomy chylothorax: incidence, risk factors, and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax is a rare but potentially lethal complication of esophagectomy. This study evaluated the rate of postesophagectomy chylothorax, identified associated risk factors, and compared postoperative outcomes in patients with and without chylothorax.

METHODS

We reviewed 892 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy (1997 to 2008). Preoperative, operative, and postoperative details, including adverse outcomes and mortality, were analyzed.

RESULTS

Postesophagectomy chylothorax occurred in 34 patients (3.8%). Chylothorax was significantly associated with 30-day major complications (85% vs 46%; p<0.001), including an increased likelihood of sepsis (p=0.001), pneumonia (p=0.009), reintubation (p=0.002) or reoperation (p<0.001), and death (17.7% vs 3.9%, p<0.001). Median length of stay was 17 vs 8 days (p=0.005). Median time to chylothorax diagnosis was 5 days. Thoracic duct ligation was performed in 21 (62%) at a median 13 days after esophagectomy. Two patients required repeat duct ligation for persistent chylothorax. Squamous cell cancer histology (9 of 34; 26%) was an independent predictor of postoperative chylothorax (odds ratio, 4.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 12.6). Odds of chylothorax were 36 times greater with average daily chest tube output exceeding 400 mL in the first 6 postoperative days (odds ratio, 35.9; 95% confidence interval, 8.2 to 157.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative chylothorax is associated with significant postoperative morbidity and mortality. Patients with squamous cell cancer may be at increased risk. In addition, average daily chest tube output exceeding 400 mL in the early postoperative period should prompt fluid analysis for chylothorax to facilitate early diagnosis and consideration of thoracic duct ligation.

Prevention of postoperative chylothorax with thoracic duct ligation during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a feasible technique that has been shown to be safe for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Chylothorax remains a challenging and potentially life-threatening postoperative complication of MIE. In this retrospective series, we evaluated the results of preventive intraoperative thoracic duct ligation in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer.

METHODS

From May 2009 to June 2010, 70 video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomies for cancer of the esophagus (group A) were performed without prophylactic thoracic duct ligation. Since June 2010, 65 patients (group B) with esophageal cancer underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy with routine ligation of the thoracic duct during the operation.

RESULTS

No intraoperative or postoperative complications directly related to thoracic duct ligation were recorded. Postoperative chylothorax occurred in seven patients in group A and in one patient in group B (P = 0.0375).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that thoracic duct ligation during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer is an effective and safe method for prevention of postoperative chylothorax.

Postoperative chylothorax successfully treated using conservative strategies

The anatomy of the thoracic duct varies considerably, rendering it prone to disruption during thoracic surgery. Chylothorax complicates up to 0.5% of all intrathoracic procedures, its morbidity requiring the surgeon's vigilance throughout the entire course of the patient's illness. The natural history of chylothorax includes cardiopulmonary dysfunction, immunosuppression, nutritional and electrolyte derangements, and, ultimately, sepsis and death. General criteria for conservative management of thoracic duct injuries have been described in surgical literature, yet in selecting the best treatment for the patient, surgeons rely heavily on their own experience and the patient's unique presentation. A variety of conservative strategies may be implemented with success in approximately 50% of all cases. The duration of conservative treatment may vary, but the futility of conservative efforts should be recognized early and surgical intervention not delayed. We report a case of a 42-year-old man who presented at our institution with chylothorax after posterior mediastinal mass resection. The patient was treated successfully by withholding oral food and fluids, instituting total parenteral nutrition, and draining with a thoracostomy tube. He was discharged home with a complete resolution of chylothorax on hospital day 8. We describe the patient's illness course and discuss current strategies in the conservative management of thoracic duct injury after mediastinal resection.

Surgical pathology is a predictor of outcome in post-operative lymph leakage

BACKGROUND

Post-operative lymph leak is a potentially serious complication which may contribute to fluid and electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition and an increase risk of sepsis and mortality. We aimed to study the use of TPN in the treatment of post-operative lymph leak.

METHODS

Retrospective review of prospectively collected clinical database comprising patients with post-operative lymph leak treated with TPN collected over 1998-2006. An analysis of morbidity and mortality was performed.

RESULTS

36 patients developed lymph leak following radical neck dissection (n = 10), Whipples procedure (n = 13), oesophagectomy (n = 10) and pulmonary/vascular/retroperitoneal (n = 3) surgery. The survival to discharge was 89%. The mortality rate in patients with chylothorax following oesophagectomy was 30% (three out of ten). The majority of patients (67%, 24 out of 36) with lymph leak settled on TPN alone. The overall re-intervention rate was 20%. Of the seven survivors after oesophagectomy, five underwent re-intervention thoracic surgery (two also had ischaemic perforation of gastric remnant needing revision surgery). Overall, the re-intervention rate in all patients undergoing oesophageal surgery is 60%.

CONCLUSION

Most patients with post-operative lymph leak receiving TPN alone survived. It is rare for re-operation to be necessary in patients who have lymph leaks in the neck or retroperitoneum. Re-operative intervention is more commonly performed in lymph leak after oesophagectomy.

Reliability of Poirier's triangle in localizing the thoracic duct in the thorax

PURPOSE

Preemptive ligation of the thoracic duct (TD) is occasionally performed during cardiothoracic procedures to prevent chylothorax. Landmarks for localizing this structure are thus important to the surgeon during such procedures. One historically used area for identifying this structure in the thorax is Poirier's triangle. The present paper aimed to investigate the relationship of the TD to Poirier's triangle.

METHODS

We evaluated the use of this geometric area in localizing the TD in 35 adult cadavers.

RESULTS

Poirier's triangle was found in all specimens, but the TD was found within the confines of Poirier's triangle in only 17 specimens (45.7%). When not identified in Poirier's triangle, the regional TD was often (28.6%) seen in the interval between the proximal left subclavian and left common carotid arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

These data may be of use to the surgeon when identifying the proximal TD within the thorax.

Misdiagnosis of a chylous cyst as chest wall gouty tophus: a case of true pseudogout

A patient referred to us for recurrent chest wall gouty tophus, but who was determined to actually have a chylous cyst, is described herein. Chylous cysts of the neck or chest wall can be caused by thoracic duct injury. Chyle contains 4-40 gm/liter of lipids, mostly triglycerides, and these can form birefringent crystals upon drying, leading to a false diagnosis of gout.

Minimally invasive management of chylous fistula after esophagectomy

Chyle leak is an unwelcome complication of esophagectomy that is associated with a high mortality. The diagnosis of this condition may be difficult or delayed and requires a high index of suspicion. Management varies from conservative treatment with drainage, intravenous nutrition, treatment and prevention of septic complications, to re-operation, either by thoracotomy or laparotomy to control the fistula. To reduce the mortality, early surgical intervention is advised and a minimally invasive approach has recently been reported in several cases. From June 2002 through August 2005 we have used video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to diagnose and treat chyle fistulas from 6/129 (5%) patients who underwent esophagectomy for resectable carcinoma of the esophagus or high-grade dysplasia. The fistula was successfully controlled in 5/6 cases by direct thoracoscopic application of a suture, clips or fibrin glue. One patient required a laparotomy and ligation of the cysterna chyli after thoracoscopy failed to identify an intrathoracic source of the leak. An early minimally invasive approach can be safely and effectively applied to the diagnosis and management of post-esophagectomy chylous fistula in the majority of cases. Open surgery may be appropriate where minimally invasive approaches fail or where the availability of such skills is limited.

Transabdominal ligation of the thoracic duct as treatment of choice for postoperative chylothorax after esophagectomy

Postoperative chylothorax after injury of the thoracic duct during esophagectomy is a rare but severe complication which may lead to serious problems such as loss of fat and proteins, and immunodeficiency. Without treatment mortality can rise to over 50%. From 1988 to 2005, we treated 10 patients with postoperative chylothorax after 409 resections of the esophagus (2.4%). Of these 10 patients nine underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with gastric pull-up to enable an intrathoracic (n = 7) or cervical (n = 2) anastomosis and one patient received a transhiatal esophagectomy with gastric pull-up and cervical anastomosis. The average amount of postoperative chylus was 2205 mL (200-4500 mL) per day. After a median postoperative interval of 10 days, relaparotomy and transhiatal double ligation of the thoracic duct was performed in nine out of 10 patients. One patient could be managed conservatively. The average amount of chylus was reduced to 151 mL per day (90.5%). Seven patients had no complications, and three suffered from postoperative pneumonia. Two of the patients with pneumonia recovered, and one died. Discharge from hospital, after ligation of the thoracic duct, was possible after a median time of 18 days (11-52). Ligation of the thoracic duct via relaparotomy appeared to be a simple and safe method to treat postoperative chylothorax.

Predictive factors associated with prolonged chest drain production after esophagectomy

After esophagectomy, pleural drainage is performed to ensure complete drainage of the pleural cavities. The aim of this study was to detect predisposing factors for prolonged drainage. Patients who underwent transhiatal or extended transthoracic esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus or gastroesophageal junction were included. Patients who underwent esophagectomy produced a median total drainage volume of 2477 mL (range 30-14,908). Seventy-five patients needed chest drainage = 7 days (short drainage) while 57 patients needed chest drainage > 7 days (prolonged drainage). Factors associated with prolonged drainage were a transthoracic approach (P < 0.001), a higher volume of blood loss (P = 0.027), a higher number of resected lymphnodes (P = 0.046) and a radical dissection (P = 0.033). Prolonged pleural drainage is associated with a transthoracic approach and is seen more often in patients after a microscopically radical dissection. Prolonged drainage is a sign of adequate dissection on the site of the primary tumor, probably due to the more extensive trauma to the lymphatic vessels in the mediastinum.

[Complications of surgical resection of esophageal cancer]

Esophageal resection has undergone refinements over recent years, with improved outcomes. However, in-hospital mortality remains above 10% in developed countries and is below 5% in only a select group of hospitals. Morbidity remains high even in high-volume hospitals. We reviewed risk factors in esophageal resection. Pulmonary complications occur mainly in older patients and in those with pulmonary dysfunction, especially %FEV1 or hypoxia. Liver cirrhosis, squamous cell cancer, low patient volume, and cervical anastomoses also increase complication rates. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, which may be effective in squamous cell tumors, can also increase morbidity. The main cause of morbidity and mortality are pleuropulmonary complications. Also significant are anastomotic leak and esophageal conduit necrosis. A complex procedure such as esophageal resection is better served in specialized teams.

Chylothorax Complicating Repairs of the Descending and Thoracoabdominal Aorta

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax occurring during thoracic aortic surgery is an infrequent but serious complication. The purpose of this study was to analyze our experience with this complication and the resulting outcomes.

METHODS

From January 1991 to July 2005, we performed 1,233 descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgical procedures. A retrospective review was performed to analyze and identify preoperative and operative risk factors as well as management outcomes of postoperative chylothorax (PCT).

RESULTS

PCT developed in five patients (0.4%). All five cases occurred with descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, and 80% (four of five patients) were undergoing aortic reoperation. All patients were managed successfully with no mortality. Risk factors for the development of chylothorax were descending thoracic aortic repair (p = 0.006) and thoracic aortic reoperations (p = 0.0003). Nonoperative management was successful in 60% (three of five patients). Two patients required left thoracotomy with direct ligation. Mean hospital length of stay was 35 days (range, 15 to 60 days). Mean follow-up was 33 months (range, 3 to 69 months) with no recurrence of chylothorax or additional morbidity or mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Chylothorax is more likely to occur with reoperations and repairs involving the descending thoracic aorta. Although PCT is associated with longer hospital length of stay, it is not associated with increased infectious complications. Early identification and prompt treatment may decrease both early and late morbidity and mortality.