ABSTRACT
A 53-year-old man with chronic dyspnea and bilateral pleural effusion was subsequently diagnosed with idiopathic chylothorax. Lymphatic scintigraphy confirmed lymphatic fluid leakage at the left venous angle, prompting management with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA). Although the left pleural effusion was controlled, the right pleural effusion continued to increase, resulting in bilateral leg lymphedema that was refractory to LVA. Approximately three years and three months after the presentation, the patient succumbed to CO2 narcosis and renal failure. It is crucial to study additional cases in order to uncover new causes and develop pathology-based treatments for this condition.
ABSTRACT
Chylous ascites associated with radical resection of gastric cancer is a serious clinical condition. Lymph node dissection is indispensable during gastrectomy for gastric cancer. However, postoperative chylous ascites prolongs the hospital stay and re-operation. There are few reports on this subject. Most cases of chylous ascites resolve without treatment, but the condition can result in substantial morbidity. The definition of chylous ascites is ambiguous and varies in the English literature. In this report, we discuss a case of chylous ascites in a 68-year-old man who underwent distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer at our hospital. He was admitted 8 months after surgery with a main complaint of abdominal swelling. Abdominal puncture helped to diagnose chylous ascites with marked elevation of triglyceride level. The patient received a hypercaloric infusion through a central line, and octreotide acetate, but did not improve. After assessment of lymph outflow by lymph scintigraphy, surgical ligation of the lymph vessels was performed through laparotomy. The volume of milky-white ascites in the abdominal cavity was 3,000 mL. Macroscopically, the fluid was confirmed as flowing from behind the common hepatic artery. Thus, ligation was performed. Chylous ascites has not recurred at 12 months after the re-operation. In summary, a case of chylous ascites after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer was successfully treated by surgery. We review and discuss the relevant literature.
Subject(s)
Chylous Ascites/therapy , Fibrin Tissue Adhesive/therapeutic use , Gastrectomy/adverse effects , Lymphatic Vessels/surgery , Stomach Neoplasms/surgery , Aged , Ascites , Chylous Ascites/diagnosis , Chylous Ascites/etiology , Humans , Ligation , Lymphatic Vessels/diagnostic imaging , Male , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local , Radionuclide Imaging , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Chylothorax is defined as accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space. Chylothorax in the neonatal period can be classified into three distinct categories: congenital chylothorax (CC), syndromic or malformative chylothorax (MC) and postoperative chylothorax (CO). Although rare, chylothorax is the most common cause of pleural effusions in the neonatal period. Making a positive diagnosis is easy by examination of the pleural fluid, but its mechanism and especially the integrity of thoracic duct and its collateral branches is sometimes difficult to determine. Lymphoscintigraphy is the test of choice in etipathogenic diagnosis. This diagnostic tool can be coupled, if possible, to SPECT-CT (single photon emission tomography / computed tomography) providing more specific anatomical informations. Tratment of chylothorax is based on the drainage of the pleural fluid, the suppression of dietary fats and on parenteral nutrition. Surgery is recommended in the case of medical treatment failure. We report the case of a newborn with unilateral chylothorax who did not respond to medical treatment. Lymphoscintigraphy allowed to diagnose etiopathogenic mechanism underlying chylothorax and therefore to direct surgical treatment.