Bilateral chylothorax as a complication of internal jugular vein cannulation

Pitfalls in internal jugular vein cannulation

Central venous catheter insertion in the internal jugular vein (IJV) is frequently performed in acute care settings, facilitated by its easy availability and increased use of ultrasound in healthcare settings. Despite the increased safety profile and insertion convenience, it has complications. Herein, we aim to inform readers about the existing literature on the plethora of complications with potentially disastrous consequences for patients undergoing IJV cannulation.

Thoracic duct cannulation during left internal jugular vein cannulation: A case report

BACKGROUND

Central venous catheter insertion is an invasive procedure that can cause complications such as infection, embolization due to air or blood clots, pneumothorax, hemothorax, and, rarely, chylothorax due to damage to the thoracic duct. Herein, we report a case of suspected thoracic duct cannulation that occurred during left central venous catheter insertion. Fortunately, the patient was discharged without any adverse events related to thoracic duct cannulation.

CASE SUMMARY

A 46-year-old female patient presented at our department to undergo cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. During anesthesia, we decided to insert a central venous catheter through the left internal jugular vein because the patient already had a chemoport through the right central vein. During the procedure, blood reflux was observed when the needle tip was not within the ultrasound field of view. We did not try to find the tip; however, a guide wire and a central venous catheter were inserted without any resistance. Subsequently, when inducing blood reflux from the distal port of the central venous catheter, only clear fluid, suspected to be lymphatic fluid, was regurgitated. Further, chest X-ray revealed an appearance similar to that of the path of the thoracic duct. Given that intravenous fluid administration was not started and no abnormal fluid collection was noted on preoperative chest X-ray, we suspected thoracic duct cannulation.

CONCLUSION

It is important to use ultrasound to confirm the exact position of the needle tip and guide wire path.

A Unique Case of Chylothorax Occurring Post-Chest Tube Insertion

Chylothorax is a relatively rare condition characterized by the accumulation of chyle, a milky lymphatic fluid, within the pleural space. It occurs because of disruption or obstruction of the thoracic duct or its tributaries, leading to chyle leakage into the pleural cavity. We present an interesting case of chylothorax that occurred as a complication post-chest tube insertion. A 66-year-old patient presented with hypotension and shortness of breath. Initial chest X-ray in the emergency room showed a right-sided hydropneumothorax requiring chest tube placement. Later on, the patient was transferred to the medical intensive care unit for respiratory failure. Chest tube drainage was initially serosanguineous but later changed to milky-white drainage. Pleural fluid analysis showed a triglyceride level of 208, confirming chylothorax. Conservative treatment was initiated with a low-fat diet and octreotide. The plan was to schedule the patient for thoracic duct embolization in view of continuous chylous drainage, but due to family preference, the procedure was deferred. This case report provides an overview of chylothorax, including etiologies and diagnostic options, and shows the importance of taking a multidisciplinary approach to finalize management strategies.

Chylothorax due to thrombosis of the jugular and subclavian veins in a patient with gastric cancer: a case report

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax is a rare condition due to leakage of chyle in the thoracic cavity. When large amounts of chyle leak into the thoracic cavity, it can lead to severe respiratory, immune, and metabolic complications. Chylothorax has many potential underlying etiologies, and the most common causes are traumatic chylothorax and lymphoma. Venous thrombosis of the upper extremities is a rare cause of a chylothorax.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 62-year-old Dutch man with a medical history of gastric cancer, treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery 13 months prior, presented with dyspnea and a swollen left arm. Computed tomography thorax showed bilateral pleural effusion that was more prominent on the left side. The computed tomography scan further revealed thrombosis of the left jugular and subclavian veins and osseal masses suggesting cancer metastasis. Thoracentesis was performed to confirm the suspicion of gastric cancer metastasis. The obtained fluid was milky with a high level of triglycerides, but contained no malignant cells; hence, the diagnosis of the pleural effusion was chylothorax. Treatment with anticoagulation and a medium-chain-triglycerides diet was started. Furthermore, bone metastasis was confirmed with a bone biopsy.

CONCLUSION

Our case report demonstrates chylothorax as a rare cause of dyspnea in a patient with pleural effusion and a history of cancer. Therefore, this diagnosis should be considered in all patients with a history of cancer with new-onset pleural effusion and thrombosis of the upper extremities or clavicular/mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Indonesian female with bilateral chylothorax and mediastinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Bilateral chylothorax is leakage and accumulation of lymph fluid in the pleural space on both sides of the lung and in non-traumatic cases, caused mainly by lymphoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

An Indonesian female, 34 years old, complained of short breath, cough, and swelling in several areas (neck, breast, and hands). Chest X-ray and thorax CT scan showed the anterior mediastinal mass and bilateral pleural effusion. Pleural fluid from both hemithorax was yellow and turbid but odorless. Aerobic culture and cytology of pleural fluid were negative. Triglyceride (TG) of both pleural fluids was >110 mg/dL with the ratio of cholesterol/triglyceride of pleural fluid <1 supporting chylothorax. The core biopsy analysis was negative. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma was established by open thoracotomy biopsy and immunochemistry examination. Chylothorax prognosis was an improvement which was reduced after chest tube insertion. On the outpatient, the patient plans chemotherapy with R CHOP regimen (Rituximab + Cyclophosphamide, prednisone, doxorubicin, and vincristine).

DISCUSSION

Malignancy is the primary cause of non-traumatic chylothorax and thoracotomy is used to repair the thoracic duct.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral chylothorax and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were confirmed based on pleural fluid analysis, thoracotomy open biopsy, and immunochemistry examination.

Using Lymphovenous Anastomosis and Lymph Node to Vein Anastomosis for Treatment of Posttraumatic Chylothorax with Increased Thoracic Duct Pressure in 3-Year-Old Child

Chylothorax is a rare disease and massive lymph fluid loss can cause life-threatening condition such as severe malnutrition, weight loss, and impaired immune system. If untreated, mortality rate of chylothorax can be up to 50%. This is a case report of a 3-year-old child with iatrogenic chylothorax. Despite conservative treatment and procedures, like perm catheter insertion, the patient failed to improve the respiratory symptoms over 3 months of period. As an alternative to surgical option, such as pleurodesis and thoracic duct ligation which has high complication rate, the patient underwent lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) and lymph node to vein anastomosis (LNVA). Follow-up at fourth month showed clear lungs without breathing difficulty despite perm catheter removal. This is the first report to show the effectiveness of LVA and LNVA against iatrogenic chylothorax.

Chylothorax after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Management strategy

Chylothorax is a rare complication after cardiac surgery but is associated with morbidity and mortality. The most common cause of chylothorax is damage to or avulsion of thoracic duct by electrocautery during left internal thoracic artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We describe a case of chylothorax after off-pump CABG, which was successfully treated with thoracostomy tube drainage, withholding of oral intake, total parenteral nutrition and subcutaneous octreotide, a somatostatin analog, and chemical pleurodesis.

Rare case of massive bilateral chylothorax

We present a case of a 48-year-old woman who was referred from an outside hospital. There, she had initially underwent hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy for tubo-ovarian abscess. She later developed a colovaginal fistula and perforation of sigmoid colon and underwent Hartmann's procedure along with drainage of a left subphrenic abscess. Subsequently, she had to be intubated for acute respiratory failure and was transferred to our hospital. At our hospital, she was found to have massive bilateral pleural effusions. Bilateral small-bore chest tubes were inserted that drained milky fluid. Pleural fluid analysis was consistent with bilateral chylothorax. Thereafter, patient's respiratory status improved and she was extubated. The mechanism of chylothorax was thought be either secondary to the multiple abdominal procedures or alternatively as a complication of the right subclavian catheter that was placed at the outside hospital. Her chest tubes were removed eventually, and she had a slow but definite recovery.

A supraclavicular cephalic vein drained into the subclavian vein

Although the cephalic vein follows a fairly consistent course, numerous variants have been reported. We found a rare anatomical presentation of the cephalic vein in a 75-year-old Korean male cadaver. The left cephalic vein was identified in the deltopectoral groove, ascended over the clavicle, and terminated into the left subclavian vein just before its union with the left internal jugular vein. The detailed knowledge on the variations of the cephalic vein is important for clinicians as well as anatomists since the approach through the axillary base is favored in many invasive clinical procedures.

[Injuries to blood vessels near the heart caused by central venous catheters]

Injuries to blood vessels near the heart can quickly become life-threatening and include arterial injuries during central venous puncture, which can lead to hemorrhagic shock. We report 6 patients in whom injury to the subclavian artery and vein led to life-threatening complications. Central venous catheters are associated with a multitude of risks, such as venous thrombosis, air embolism, systemic or local infections, paresthesia, hemothorax, pneumothorax, and cervical hematoma, which are not always immediately discernible. The subclavian catheter is at a somewhat lower risk of catheter-associated sepsis and symptomatic venous thrombosis than approaches via the internal jugular and femoral veins. Indeed, access via the subclavian vein carries a substantial risk of pneumo- and hemothorax. Damage to the subclavian vein or artery can also occur during deliberate and inadvertent punctures and result in life-threatening complications. Therefore, careful consideration of the access route is required in relation to the patient and the clinical situation, to keep the incidence of complications as low as possible. For catheterization of the subclavian vein, puncture of the axillary vein in the infraclavicular fossa is a good alternative, because ultrasound imaging of the target vessel is easier than in the subclavian vein and the puncture can be performed much further from the lung.