Pre-operative oil ingestion reduces the probability of thoracic duct trunk ligation during esophagectomy

Chylothorax is an important complication after esophagectomy. Ligation of the injured thoracic duct is the main method to prevent chylothorax after esophagectomy, but may be associated with adverse effects. Whether ligation of the injured tributary alone, keeping the main trunk intact, may suffice to prevent post-operative chylothorax is not well known. Since March 2017, 40 mL of olive oil was administered to patients posted for esophagectomy. We compared patients admitted between March 2017 and December 2019 with patients admitted between July 2014 and February 2017, who had not received pre-operative oil. The outcome measures were the need for thoracic duct main trunk or tributary ligation, development of chylothorax and missed ligation. There were 371 patients in the oil ingestion group and 308 patients in the standard control group. Chylothorax in the oil ingestion group was significantly lower than that in the standard control group (1.3% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.012). Chyle leak from thoracic duct tributaries was diagnosed in a significantly higher percentage (5.7% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.001) and missed ligation of the injured thoracic duct was significantly lower (0.3% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.002) in the oil ingestion group compared with the standard control group. The incidence of post-operative chylothorax was not statistically different (6.3% vs. 10.0%, P = 1.000) between the tributary and the trunk ligation group. Pre-operative oil ingestion can help visualize the thoracic duct trunk and its tributaries during esophagectomy. Thus, non-selected thoracic duct trunk ligation and missed ligation during esophagectomy can be reduced. Precise ligation of the injured tributary while the main trunk is intact can also prevent post-operative chylothorax.

Sonography for assessment of thoracic duct anatomy and physiology before and after meals

The interest in clinical anatomy of the thoracic duct (TD) has recently grown, owing to discoveries linking its morphology to pathologies such as heart failure or liver cirrhosis. In the light of this knowledge, a cost-efficient and reliable in-vivo imaging method of TD should be devised. Ultrasonography satisfies these criteria and hence is a promising tool for assessment of TD's anatomy and function. Thirty-one healthy volunteers attended the examination after 6 h of fasting and 2 h without drink. Ultrasound of the left supraclavicular fossa was performed in search of TD's orifice into the venous angle. In each case, the largest diameter, number of orifices, presence of valves, tributaries, and motility of the TD were examined. We performed examinations in three sessions: after fasting, after standardized meal and 1 h after the meal. The statistical significance has varied among the three sessions. The strongest connection was shown in the third examination. The TD was visualized in 31 cases, 35 orifices were found, most of which drained into the venous angle. Multiple orifices were seen in four cases and valves in 15 cases. Tributaries were present in 17 cases. Mean widest and orifice diameter measured 3.23 and 2.0 mm, respectively. Spontaneous peristaltic-like movements of the TD were observed in 25 cases. We demonstrated that ultrasound is useful for assessment of TD's anatomy, allowing to visualize and quantify its key features. Moreover, our study is presumably the first to capture and describe TD's motility in vivo.

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.

Nutritional Outcomes of Thoracic Duct Resection for Radical Esophagectomy by Assessing Body Composition Changes in One Year: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Thoracic duct (TD) resection is performed when the tumor or a metastatic lymph node directly invades the TD, and is sometimes indicated for radical lymphadenectomy during esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients. However, the effect of TD resection on nutritional status has not been established.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 174 consecutive patients from October 2015 to March 2019 who underwent radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in Toranomon Hospital were classified into thoracic duct preserved group (n = 51) and TD-resected (TD-R) group (n = 123). We compared laboratory data, body composition data from bioelectrical impedance analysis measured preoperatively and at 1 and 12 months after surgery, and postoperative complications between the two groups.

RESULTS

Clinical stage was significantly more advanced in the TD-R group. Total body weight, body mass index, and fat mass continuously decreased in the two groups over 12 months after surgery, and the decreases were statistically greater in the TD-R group at 12 months after surgery. Skeletal muscle mass and fat-free mass decreased over 1 month after surgery and stayed in a reduced state until 12 months after surgery without statistically significant differences between the two groups. TD resection did not increase incidence of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ grade III), but TD resection increased incidence of chylothorax.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that loss of body fat mass, which was a main contributor to body weight loss, was accelerated in the TD-R group, but TD resection does not deteriorate loss of muscle mass at 12 months after surgery.

The influence of thoracic duct ligation on long-term survival of patients with esophageal cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis

Background

Ligation of the thoracic duct (LTD) is known to be a useful way to prevent postoperative chylothorax, but its impact on long-term survival is rare to be assessed.

Methods

Data from 609 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy from September, 2012, to January, 2014, were retrospectively collected. The study cohort was classified into two groups: the thoracic duct ligation group (LG) and the non-ligation group (NLG). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control confounding factors between the two groups. Postoperative complications and length of stay were compared between the two groups. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared using the log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were determined using Cox regression analysis.

Results

After PSM, there were 185 patients in each of the two groups. LTD had no significant impact on chylothorax, anastomotic leak, recurrent nerve palsy, pneumonia and length of stay (P>0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 87.0%, 64.1%, and 50.9% in the LG, respectively, compared to 85.4%, 59.9%, and 42.3%, respectively, in the NLG. The differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (P=0.156). In the multivariable analysis, LTD was not an independent prognostic factor, neither before nor after PSM.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that LTD had no significant impact on postoperative complications or long-term survival in patients with esophageal cancer.

The effect of prophylactic thoracic duct ligation during esophagectomy on the incidence of chylothorax and survival of the patients: an updated review

BACKGROUND

The role of thoracic duct ligation (TDL) during esophagectomy remains controversial. This review aimed to elucidate the effect of TDL on chylothorax and survival of the patients after esophagectomy for cancer.

METHODS

We searched articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar till May 2020 according to the PRISMA guidelines using the terms of [Oesophagectomy OR esophagectomy] AND [chylothorax] AND [thoracic duct ligation]. Only those compared the incidence of chylothorax in patients who ligated or resected the thoracic duct (ligation group) or preserved the thoracic duct (preservation group) were selected.

RESULTS

First, 15 studies including one randomized controlled trial were collected for meta-analysis regarding post-esophagectomy chylothorax. Of these, 3658 patients underwent TDL and 4638 cases preserved the thoracic duct. Both groups showed similar chylothorax rate (odd ratios 0.73 in favor of ligation group; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-1.07, p = 0.11). Second, four studies providing survival information were included for another meta-analysis, and the patients in preservation group demonstrated better 5-year overall survival compared to those in ligation group (odds ratio 1.25; 95% CI 1.08-1.44, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The present review provided updated evidence opposing prophylactic TDL during esophagectomy for lowering chylothorax. Considering the harmful effect of TDL on survival of the patients, further well-designed trials should be considered in selected cases under strict supervision.

Prophylactic thoracic duct ligation is associated with poor prognosis and regional lymph node relapse in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The ligation of thoracic duct interrupts the normal lymphatic circulation. Whether the ligation of thoracic duct would affect tumor recurrence and patient survival is unclear.

METHODS

The correlations between prophylactic thoracic duct ligation (PLG) and prognosis were examined in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients who received Ivor Lewis or McKeown esophagectomy with systemic lymph node dissection and R0 resection between 2003 and 2013 in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were included in the study.

RESULTS

A total number of 473 and 462 were included in the PLG group and non-prophylactic thoracic duct ligation (NPLG) group, respectively. The PLG group had a lower 5-year survival rate (48.2% vs 61.6%, P < .001). After a 1:1 propensity score matching, 874 cases (437 pairs) were included and the survival analysis showed that PLG was associated with worse 5-year cumulative survival of 48.6% vs 61.6% in those patients without ligation (P < .001). The multivariate analysis revealed that PLG was an independent factor for poor prognosis after esophagectomy (hazard ratio, HR = 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 1.26-1.93, P < .001). Additionally, PLG was associated with regional lymph node relapse (P = .015).

CONCLUSIONS

PLG should not be performed routinely if no sign of thoracic duct rupture or tumor invasion were identified.

Minimally Invasive and Robotic Esophagectomy: A Review

Great advances have been made in the surgical management of esophageal disease since the first description of esophageal resection in 1913. We are in the era of minimally invasive esophagectomy. The current three main approaches to an esophagectomy are the Ivor Lewis technique, McKeown technique, and the transhiatal approach to esophagectomy. These operations were associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The recent advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques have greatly improved the outcomes of these surgical procedures. This article reviews the literature and describes the various techniques available for performing minimally invasive esophagectomy and robot-assisted esophagectomies, the history behind the development of these techniques, the variations, and the contemporary outcomes after such procedures.

Two-Field Lymphadenectomy During Esophagectomy: The Presence of Thoracic Duct Lymph Nodes

BACKGROUND

Resection of the thoracic duct is part of the formal en bloc mediastinal esophagolymphadenectomy for cancer, although with the adaptation of minimally invasive techniques, some centers started to leave the thoracic duct compartment in situ. However, previous studies reported thoracic duct lymph nodes in this compartment that may contain metastasis. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and number of lymph nodes in the fatty tissue surrounding the thoracic duct.

METHODS

A right-sided thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed on seven fresh-frozen human cadavers (male, n = 3; female, n = 4). The esophagus and lymph node stations 7, 8, and 9 were resected en bloc, followed by resection of the thoracic duct compartment consisting of the fatty tissue covering the aorta, the thoracic duct and thoracic duct lymph nodes. Lymph nodes were visualized by a hematoxylin and eosin stain and counted macroscopically and microscopically.

RESULTS

Thoracic duct lymph nodes were found in 6 of 7 cadavers (86%), with a median number of 1 (range, 0 to 6). Nodes were predominantly located in the area of the azygos vein. A median of 4 subcarinal nodes (range, 1 to 8) and 2 periesophageal nodes (range, 1 to 4) were present.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that thoracic duct lymph nodes are located within the fatty tissue surrounding the thoracic duct. Resection of this compartment during an esophagectomy for cancer increases lymph node yield.

Thoracic Duct Narrowing-Innovative Technique Restraining Weight Gain in Rats

BACKGROUND

The lymphatic system is responsible for the absorption of fats from the digestive system, conveying 60-70 % of ingested fat to the blood stream. From the anatomical point of view, all the lymphatic drainage from the lower half of the body converges in the abdomen to enter the thoracic duct. This experimental study aim was to study the result of thoracic duct narrowing (TDN), an innovative surgical technique, on weight gain restrain in high-fat diet-fed rats.

METHODS

Forty-seven rats were allocated into three groups: thoracic duct narrowing ("S"-surgery), sham operation ("CS"-control surgery), and no surgery ("C"-control). All rats were fed with high-fat, cholesterol-rich diet. Food consumption and metabolic syndrome parameters including weight gain, plasma lipids and glucose, blood pressure, and viscera weight and histopathology were analyzed.

RESULTS

Thoracic duct narrowing was proved simple and safe surgical procedure in the rat model. TDN induced weight gain restrain, associated with mild hepatic steatosis compared to moderate-severe hepatic steatosis in control groups. Splenomegaly and splenic fatty histiocytes were shown in the treated animals.

CONCLUSIONS

TDN improved several parameters of the metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-fed rats. TDN carries the potential of innovative obesity treatment using the lymphatic route of lipid absorption.