Invasive treatment of persistent postoperative chylothorax secondary to thoracic duct variation injury: Two case reports and literature review.

RATIONALE: Postoperative chylothorax is a rare complication after pulmonary resection. Thoracic duct variations may play a key role in postoperative chylothorax occurrence and make treatment difficult. No studies in the literature have reported the successful treatment of chylothorax second to thoracic duct variation by lipiodol-based lymphangiography. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 63-year-old male and a 28-year-old female with primary lung adenocarcinoma were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic cancer resection, and suffered postoperative chylothorax. Conservative treatment was ineffective, including nil per os, persistent thoracic drainage, fatty food restriction, and somatostatin administration. DIAGNOSIS: Postoperative chylothorax. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received lipiodol-based lymphangiography under fluoroscopic guidance. Iatrogenic injuries were identified at thoracic duct variations, including an additional channel in case 1 and the lymphatic plexus instead of the thoracic duct in case 2. OUTCOMES: Thoracic duct variations were identified by lipiodol-based lymphangiography, and postoperative chylothorax was successfully treated by lipiodol embolizing effect. LESSONS: Thoracic duct variations should be considered after the failure of conservative treatment for postoperative chylothorax secondary to pulmonary resection. Lipiodol-based lymphangiography is valuable for identifying the thoracic duct variations and embolizing chylous leakage.

Incidence and treatment of chylothorax after cardiac surgery in children: analysis of a large multi-institution database.

OBJECTIVE: There is limited information regarding the true incidence of and risk factors for chylothorax after pediatric cardiac surgery. The objective of this study was to determine, from a large multi-institution database, incidence, associated factors, and treatment strategy in patients undergoing pediatric cardiac surgery. METHODS: All patients younger than 18 years in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database who underwent congenital heart surgery or heart transplant from 2004 to 2011 were included. Procedure complexity was assessed by Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1. RESULTS: In all, 77,777 patients (55% male) of median age 6.7 months were included. Overall incidence of chylothorax was 2.8% (n = 2205), significantly associated with increased procedure complexity, younger age, genetic syndromes, vein thrombosis, and higher annual hospital volume. Patients with multiple congenital procedures had the highest incidence. Incidence increased with time, from 2% in 2004 to 3.7% in 2011 (P < .0001). Chylothorax was associated with longer stay (P < .0001), increased adjusted risk for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.75-2.61), and higher cost (P < .0001), regardless of procedure complexity. Of all patients with chylothorax, 196 (8.9%) underwent thoracic duct ligation or pleurodesis a median of 18 days after surgery. Total parenteral nutrition, medium-chain fatty acid supplementation, and octreotide were used in 56%, 1.7%, and 16% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Chylothorax is a significant problem in pediatric cardiac surgery and is associated with increased mortality, cost, and length of stay. Strategies should be developed to improve prevention and treatment.

Post-esophagectomy chylous leakage from a duplicated left-sided thoracic duct ligated successfully with left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Three months after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, a 58-year-old man presented with fluid trapped in his upper mediastinum due to chylous leakage from a duplicated left-sided thoracic duct that remained after excision of the main thoracic duct. Classical lymphangiography using lipiodol confirmed the presence of duplicated thoracic ducts. Conservative treatments were not effective, and then we performed ligation of the left-sided thoracic duct with left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Anatomic variations of the thoracic duct can result in chylous leakage after thoracic surgery. Even if the patient has anomaly of the thoracic duct, classical lymphangiography is useful for detecting locations of the thoracic duct precisely, allowing for certain ligation of the duct with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Contribution of lymphatic transport to the systemic exposure of orally administered moxidectin in conscious lymph duct-cannulated dogs.

Moxidectin, a macrocyclic lactone (ML), is a potent parasiticide widely used in veterinary medicine and currently under development for use in humans. The contribution of the lymphatic route to the intestinal absorption and transport of moxidectin to the systemic circulation was evaluated in lymph duct-cannulated dogs. Beagle dogs were operated for lymph duct cannulation and were orally dosed with 38g of corn oil and moxidectin (0.2mg/kg, n=3). The lymph and plasma were collected over 24h and moxidectin and triglyceride concentrations were measured. Similarly, control dogs (n=5) were dosed orally with moxidectin and oil and subsequently with moxidectin intravenously. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for moxidectin in the plasma of the dogs. Moxidectin readily accumulated in the lymph and reached a plateau 8h post-administration, paralleling triglyceride appearance. The percentage of moxidectin recovered in lymph was 22+/-3% of the total administered dose with 92% being associated with triglyceride-rich particles. The systemic bioavailability of oral moxidectin coadministered with lipid was only 40% in the lymph duct-cannulated dogs compared with 71% in the controls. Our data clearly indicate that the lymphatic transport process contributes significantly to the post-prandial intestinal absorption of moxidectin and subsequently to its systemic bioavailability. The lymphatic transport of moxidectin offers potential strategies based on lipid formulations to improve the bioavailability of MLs when administered orally.

[A new method for sampling lymph from animals]. / Novyi sposob zabora limfy u zhivotnykh.

In experiments conducted on locally anesthesized rats, an access to the cistern of the thoracic duct was made by the previously developed method which involved laparatomy, the exfoliation of the left kidney, arteria renalis, vena renalis, vasa lymphatica, renal lymph nodes, and ureter, followed by drawing them medially. The cistern of the thoracic duct was punctured by glass micropipettes manufactured by the Russia's patent No. 1495076, which allowed dendritic and Mott cells to be detected in central lymph.

[Surgical treatment of ascites in cirrhosis of the liver]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie astsita pri tsirroze pecheni.

A porto-systemic shunt can be created in patients with a stable course of cirrhosis of the liver complicated by varicosity of the esophageal veins and transitory ascites. The formation of a lympho-venous anastomosis is indicated in ascites and impaired lymph drainage from the liver. Interventions minimal in volume (peritoneo-venous shunting, reduction of arterial blood flow, etc.) are indicated in stable or progressive ascites and marked disorders of hepatic function.

New approaches for immunosuppression.

New approaches for experimental immunosuppression have been reviewed. These include the following: 1) cyclosporin A, a metabolite from fungus that suppresses multiplying but not resting T and B lymphocytes and can be used in pulsed manner with interspersed drug-free periods; 2) total lymphoid irradiation (transplantation tolerance in rats has been achieved by pretransplant radiation); 3) thoracic duct drainage, which is being revived following its demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of some autoimmune disease; 4) hyperbaric oxygen (HBOX). We have found that HBOX 2 1/2 ATA for five hours daily depresses cell-mediated immunity in mice and that this can be reversed by intravenous administration of autologous macrophages.

Chylothorax: therapeutic alternatives.

Persistent loss of chyle, rich in metabolites, water and electrolytes, can be quickly devastating, particularly in debilitated patients and children. Chylothorax of traumatic origin, especially when loss of chyle is rapid, is most effectively arrested with direct closure of the fistula or ligation of the thoracic duct. Thoracic duct ligation is indicated when a controlled fat diet or parenteral hyperalimentation without oral intake and closed chest drainage are not effective in arresting chylous pleural effusions.