[Conservative therapy in the treatment of cervical chylous leakage].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore and evaluate the combined conservative managements in the treatment of cervical chylous leakage. METHODS: Thirty nine cases of cervical chylous leakage from June 1992 to June 2008 were retrospectively analyzed in this hospital. All of the 39 cases were cured by treating with conservative individualized therapy, including the applying of diet with high calorie, high protein and low fat and fatty food should only contains medium-chain triglycerides, total parenteral nutrition, keep the balance of hydrogen and electrolyte and correct hypoproteinemia, local pressure dressing, high persistent vacuum drainage (-50 approximately -80 kPa) and/or somatostatin analogue. RESULTS: All the cases of chylous leakage happened 2nd to 5th days after the operation. Among the 39 cases, 7 were high flow (drainage>or=500 ml/d) chylous leakage, the amount of drainage reached as high as 1440 ml per day. The time of chylous leakage closure was 3 approximately 12 days, and the mean time was 7 days. No one experienced re-operation, wound hydrops or wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: The conservative individualized therapy may play a key role in the treatment of cervical chylous leakage.