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International Journal of Otolaryngology 2017Chyle leak formation is an uncommon but serious sequela of head and neck surgery when the thoracic duct is inadvertently injured, particularly with the resection of... (Review)
Review
Chyle leak formation is an uncommon but serious sequela of head and neck surgery when the thoracic duct is inadvertently injured, particularly with the resection of malignancy low in the neck. The thoracic duct is the primary structure that returns lymph and chyle from the entire left and right lower half of the body. Chyle extravasation can result in delayed wound healing, dehydration, malnutrition, electrolyte disturbances, and immunosuppression. Prompt identification and treatment of a chyle leak are essential for optimal surgical outcome. In this article we will review the current treatment options for iatrogenic cervical chyle leaks.
PubMed: 28203252
DOI: 10.1155/2017/8362874 -
Respiratory Medicine Jan 2010Chylothorax is a rare condition that results from thoracic duct damage with chyle leakage from the lymphatic system into the pleural space, usually on the right side. It... (Review)
Review
Chylothorax is a rare condition that results from thoracic duct damage with chyle leakage from the lymphatic system into the pleural space, usually on the right side. It has multiple aetiologies and is usually discovered after it manifests itself as a pleural effusion. Diagnosis involves cholesterol and triglyceride measurement in the pleural fluid. Complications include malnutrition, immunosuppression and respiratory distress. Treatment may be either conservative or aggressive depending on the clinical scenario. In this review, we discuss the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of chylothorax. English language publications in MEDLINE and references from relevant articles from January 1, 1980 to February 28, 2008 were reviewed. Keywords searched were chylothorax, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Biomarkers; Chylothorax; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Prognosis; Triglycerides
PubMed: 19766473
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2009.08.010 -
Surgery Feb 2017Recent literature suggests that chyle leak may complicate up to 10% of pancreatic resections. Treatment depends on its severity, which may include chylous ascites. No... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Recent literature suggests that chyle leak may complicate up to 10% of pancreatic resections. Treatment depends on its severity, which may include chylous ascites. No international consensus definition or grading system of chyle leak currently is available.
METHODS
The International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery, an international panel of pancreatic surgeons working in well-known, high-volume centers, reviewed the literature and worked together to establish a consensus on the definition and classification of chyle leak after pancreatic operation.
RESULTS
Chyle leak was defined as output of milky-colored fluid from a drain, drain site, or wound on or after postoperative day 3, with a triglyceride content ≥110 mg/dL (≥1.2 mmol/L). Three different grades of severity were defined according to the management needed: grade A, no specific intervention other than oral dietary restrictions; grade B, prolongation of hospital stay, nasoenteral nutrition with dietary restriction, total parenteral nutrition, octreotide, maintenance of surgical drains, or placement of new percutaneous drains; and grade C, need for other more invasive in-hospital treatment, intensive care unit admission, or mortality.
CONCLUSION
This classification and grading system for chyle leak after pancreatic resection allows for comparison of outcomes between series. As with the other the International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery consensus statements, this classification should facilitate communication and evaluation of different approaches to the prevention and treatment of this complication.
Topics: Anastomosis, Surgical; Anastomotic Leak; Chylous Ascites; Consensus; Female; Humans; Internationality; Male; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Postoperative Complications; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 27692778
DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2016.06.058 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2022Chylopericardium is a rare pathologic condition consisting of the accumulation of excess amounts of chylous fluid within the pericardial cavity. Most patients are... (Review)
Review
Chylopericardium is a rare pathologic condition consisting of the accumulation of excess amounts of chylous fluid within the pericardial cavity. Most patients are asymptomatic at presentation; however, chest pressure, chest pain and lightheadedness have been reported, and the most common presenting symptom is shortness of breath. Patients are noted to have enlargement of the cardiac silhouette on routine chest radiograph, and evidence of a pericardial effusion on echocardiography. The diagnosis is only definitively confirmed with pericardiocentesis and fluid analysis. The fluid is typically turbid white or milky in appearance, with a triglyceride level in excess of 500 mg/dL. The mechanism by which chyle accumulates within the pericardium is believed to be secondary to abnormal or damaged lymphatics or due to elevated pressure within the thoracic duct that results in chyle reflux into the pericardium. Following drainage with a pericardiocentesis or pericardial drain, attempts at conservative therapy with nothing by mouth and parental nutrition can be made, but have a high rate of failure and subsequent reaccumulation of chyle. Surgical treatment provides the most definitive management and consists of ligation of the thoracic duct just above the level of the diaphragm and creation of a pericardial window. With this treatment, risk of recurrence is incredibly low (<5%).
PubMed: 35340832
DOI: 10.21037/med-20-64 -
Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ Feb 2007During a high-speed road traffic accident, a 26-year-old man suffered multiple fractures of his thoracic vertebrae and bilateral pneumothoraces. The day after admission...
During a high-speed road traffic accident, a 26-year-old man suffered multiple fractures of his thoracic vertebrae and bilateral pneumothoraces. The day after admission and commencement of nasogastric feeding, milky fluid was noted in his right chest drain. Feeding was stopped and a contrast oesophogram and oesophagoscopy were performed, which were normal. The chylothorax quickly resolved and both drains were removed on day 6. Initial treatment of chylothorax aims to decompress the pleural space and minimise chyle production by not feeding the patient via the enteral route. Most authors recommend conservative management for 2 weeks or more unless certain parameters are met: average daily chyle loss of > 1.5 l for a 5-day period, or imminent nutritional complications. In this case, surgical management of the chylothorax and spinal fractures was planned. However, conservative management was successful, highlighting the fact that early aggressive surgical intervention for chyle leaks in blunt trauma is not necessary.
Topics: Accidents, Traffic; Adult; Chest Tubes; Chylothorax; Humans; Male; Multiple Trauma; Pneumothorax; Spinal Fractures; Thoracic Duct; Thoracic Vertebrae; Wounds, Nonpenetrating
PubMed: 17251600
DOI: 10.1136/emj.2006.042028 -
BMJ Case Reports 2009During a high speed road traffic accident, a 26-year-old man suffered multiple fractures of his thoracic vertebrae and bilateral pneumothoraces. The day after admission...
During a high speed road traffic accident, a 26-year-old man suffered multiple fractures of his thoracic vertebrae and bilateral pneumothoraces. The day after admission and commencement of nasogastric feeding, milky fluid was noted in his right chest drain. Feeding was stopped and a contrast oesophogram and oesophagoscopy were performed, which were normal. The chylothorax quickly resolved and both drains were removed on day 6. Initial treatment of chylothorax aims to decompress the pleural space and minimise chyle production by stopping enteral feeding. Most authors recommend conservative management for 2 weeks or more unless certain parameters are met: average daily chyle loss of >1.5 litres for a 5 day period, or imminent nutritional complications. In this case, surgical management of the chylothorax and spinal fractures was planned. However, conservative management was successful, highlighting the fact that early aggressive surgical intervention for chyle leaks in blunt trauma is not necessary.
PubMed: 21687029
DOI: 10.1136/bcr.01.2009.1417 -
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons... Jul 2022Chyle leak is an uncommon yet potentially fatal complication of oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. The management of chyle leak is a debated, controversial topic and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Chyle leak is an uncommon yet potentially fatal complication of oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. The management of chyle leak is a debated, controversial topic and to date there is no standardised approach or validated algorithm for its management. This review aims to summarise current treatment algorithms for chyle leak post-oesophagectomy and their outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic search of Embase, MEDLINE, UpToDate and Cochrane was conducted to identify studies reporting on the management of chyle leak following oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. Data on interventional success rate and mortality are reported.
FINDINGS
Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria including over 23,254 oesophagectomies and identifying 838 chyle leaks (incidence <3.6%). The majority of cases were initially managed conservatively (95.3%), with a failure rate of 50.4%. Immediate surgical or radiological management resolved chylothorax in the majority of cases (97.3%), however the numbers were small. Death occurred in 54 cases (6.6%), all of whom underwent conservative management initially.
CONCLUSIONS
Owing to the heterogeneity of treatment algorithms, timings and indications for interventions, the optimal strategy for managing chyle leak remains unclear. This review has identified an unmet need for prospective multicentre studies assessing the efficacy of predefined algorithms.
Topics: Chyle; Chylothorax; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagectomy; Humans; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34860128
DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2021.0199 -
Breathe (Sheffield, England) Jun 2022Non-traumatic chylothorax refers to accumulation of chyle in the pleural space in the absence of any traumatic disruption to the thoracic duct. Chyle originates from the... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Non-traumatic chylothorax refers to accumulation of chyle in the pleural space in the absence of any traumatic disruption to the thoracic duct. Chyle originates from the intestines and is transported the thoracic duct into systemic circulation. The anatomical course of the thoracic duct is complex with considerable variation; therefore, development of chylothorax is dependent on the site and level of the thoracic duct defect. Non-traumatic chylothorax is associated with a wide range of medical disorders, but malignancy accounts for three-quarters of cases. In up to 9% of cases, the aetiology remains unknown (termed idiopathic chylothorax). Gross appearance of pleural fluid is neither sensitive nor specific enough to diagnose chylothorax; therefore, biochemical analysis of the pleural fluid is required. Pleural fluid triglyceride level >1.24 mmol·L (110 mg·dL) with a cholesterol level <5.18 mmol·L (200 mg·dL) is diagnostic of chylothorax. In borderline cases, lipoprotein electrophoresis can help confirm the diagnosis by detecting chylomicrons in the pleural fluid. Once the diagnosis of chylothorax is confirmed, the next step is to find the cause and identify the leakage point, for which various lymphatic specific radiological investigations may have an important role. There is paucity of data on the most suitable approach to manage non-traumatic chylothoraces and treatment often depends on the underlying cause. In general, conservative treatment is tried first, usually for a limited time, before considering more invasive measures. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended with close liaison among the respiratory physicians, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, interventional radiologists, dietitians and pharmacists.
EDUCATIONAL AIMS
To review the pathophysiology, aetiology, and epidemiology of non-traumatic chylothorax.To discuss diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the management of non-traumatic chylothorax.
PubMed: 36337134
DOI: 10.1183/20734735.0163-2021