[Postsurgical chylous ascites: case report and literature review]. / Tratamiento dietético de la ascitis quilosa postquirúrgica: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura.

Chylous ascites derives from chyle leakage into the peritoneal cavity, either due to rupture or obstruction of abdominal lymphatic vessels. The main clinical sign is abdominal distention, while diagnosis requires the presence of triglycerides in ascitic fluid. Neoplasms are the most common cause of chylous ascites, although less common causes, such as abdominal surgery, should also be considered. The mainstay of therapy is hyperproteic diet with fat restriction and middle-chain triglycerides. Parenteral nutrition is reserved for cases in which dietary treatment fails to restore an optimal nutritional status or is contraindicated, whereas surgery is considered for patients that are deemed refractory to conservative therapy. We present a case of chylous ascites secondary to retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.

Recurrent chyloperitoneum: a rare complication of peritoneal dialysis.

We report the spontaneous development of recurrent chyloperitoneum as a complication of peritoneal dialysis in a toddler. An 18-month-old boy with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis developed spontaneous chyloperitoneum. He was treated conservatively, with a low-fat diet supplemented with medium-chain triglycerides. The chyloperitoneum resolved within 2 days of his being on the low-fat diet, but it recurred after re-institution of regular feeds on four occasions. After 3 months, the chyle leak finally resolved after an extended period of low-fat feeds. Chyloperitoneum is a rare complication of peritoneal dialysis that can be confused with signs of peritonitis, and it is important to differentiate between the two so that appropriate management can be undertaken. This paper discusses the possible causes, management and complications of recurrent chyloperitoneum.

[Sucessful dietetic-therapy in primary intestinal lymphangiectasia and recurrent chylous ascites: a case report]. / Dietoterapia en paciente con linfangiectasia intestinal primaria y ascitis quilosa de repetición.

OBJECTIVES: Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a lymphatic system's disorder, where lymphatic drainage is blockaged. Clinically it produces malabsorption, protein-losing enteropathy, hypogammaglobulin in blood, and several degrees of malnutrition. Its treatment is not easy and includes dietetic-therapy and drugs. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A 35-year-old-woman case report is exposed. She has recurrent chylosa ascites, requiring several admissions and evacuatory paracentesis. After food-fat was replaced by medium-chain triacyl-glicerol-enriched diet, a clinical, analytical and anthropometric improvement was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The major way of treatment in intestinal lymphangiectasia in this case is the employement of specific-diet and adaptaded-basic-food. It's difficult and high collaboration of the patient is required, being necessary medical revisions during the whole life, due to the not well known evolution of this long-standing disease.

Dietoterapia en paciente con linfangiectasia intestinal primaria y ascitis quilosa de repetición / Sucessful dietetic-therapy in primary intestinal lymphangiectasia and recurrent chylosa ascites: A case report

Objetivos: La linfangiectasia intestinal primaria es un trastorno del sistema linfático, en el que debido a obstrucción del drenaje linfático se produce malabsorción, enteropatía pierde-proteínas e hipogamma globulinemia, y consecuentemente una malnutrición en diverso grado. Su tratamiento es complejo e incluye medidas dietéticas y farmacológicas. Material y método: En este artículo se expone el caso de una mujer de 35 años con ascitis quilosa de repetición, precisando varios ingresos hospitalarios y paracentesis evacuadoras. Tras ser diagnosticada de linfangiectasia intestinal primaria, la instauración de dieto terapia sustituyendo las grasas alimentarias por aceite MCT, ha permitido una evolución favorable tanto desde el punto de vista clínico como analítico y antropométrico. Conclusiones: El empleo de una dieta específica y el uso de triglicéridos de cadena media en la linfangiectasia intestinal son el pilar principal del tratamiento en este caso, mejorando su sintomatología y estado nutricional. Precisa de alto nivel de adherencia y colaboración por parte del paciente, siendo necesario el control médico periódico de por vida, dado que la evolución a largo plazo no es bien conocida

Objectives: Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a lymphatic system’s disorder, where lymphatic drainageis blockaged. Clinically it produces malabsorption, protein- losing enteropathy, hypogammaglobulin in blood, and several degrees of malnutrition. Its treatment is not easy and includes dietetic-therapy and drugs. Material and method: A 35-year-old-woman casereport is exposed. She has recurrent chylosa ascites, requiring several admissions and evacuatory paracentesis. After food-fat was replaced by medium-chain triacylglicerol- enriched diet, a clinical, analytical and anthropometric improvement was demonstrated. Conclusions: The major way of treatment in intestinal lymphangiectasia in this case is the employment of specific- diet and adaptaded-basic-food. It’s difficult and high collaboration of the patient is required, being necessary medical revisions during the whole life, due to the not well known evolution of this long-standing disease

Use of orlistat (xenical) to treat chylous ascites.

Chylous ascites is uncommon and occurs in about 1 in 20,000 hospital admissions. Causes include disruption of the lymphatic system due to malignancy, cirrhosis, surgery, or radiation therapy. The mainstay of therapy has been low-fat diet supplemented with medium-chain triglyceride oil. However, dietary compliance can be difficult to achieve for adequate response. We report a 47-year-old man with hepatitis C and alcohol-related cirrhosis with new-onset chylous ascites and chylothorax. His ascites triglyceride was 585 mg/dL, and the pleural fluid triglyceride was 691 mg/dL. Ascitic and pleural fluid cytology and acid-fast bacilli stain were negative. The patient was treated with low-fat diet and medium-chain triglyceride oil. However, his ascites remained chylous after 1 week of treatment because of poor compliance with the dietary restrictions. Orlistat was then added to his treatment regimen. A half week later, the chylous component of his ascites resolved. Remaining high-volume clear ascites was treated with placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. To our knowledge, orlistat has never been used in the treatment of chylous ascites. This case suggests the potential value of adding orlistat to low-fat diet and medium-chain triglyceride oil in the treatment of chylous ascites, especially in patients who are unable to comply with the dietary restrictions.

Chylous ascites: a sequel of pelvic radiation therapy.

Chylous ascites is an unusual condition with many causes. Two cases are presented in which it appeared to be related to whole pelvis irradiation in one patient for carcinoma of the vagina and in another for carcinoma of the vulva. The diagnosis is made by paracentesis and analysis of the fluid. The underlying disease usually requires identification by exploratory laparotomy. Although a malignant process is the most common cause, the only findings in the authors' cases were widespread radiation changes in the intestine. After diagnosis treatment by low-fat diet with medium-chain triglyceride supplements resulted in disappearance of chylous ascites.

Lymphangiomyomatosis with chylous ascites: treatment with dietary fat restriction and medium chain triglycerides.

Lymphangiomyomyoma is a tumor of lymphatic channels and lymph nodes, clinically manifested by recurrent chylous pleural effusions and ascites. The disease is usually progressive and unresponsive to surgery, chemotherapy, or irradiation. A case of lymphangiomyomatosis in a 24-year-old woman who presented with chylous ascites is described. The patient was treated with dietary fat restriction supplemented with medium chain triglycerides and has remained free of recurrent effusions for 2 years.