First Case of Chylous Ascites after Laparoscopic Myomectomy: A Case Report with a Literature Review.

Introduction: Chylous ascites is a rare form of ascites characterized by milk-like peritoneal fluid, rich in triglycerides. Clinical signs and symptoms include abdominal distention, pain, nausea, and vomiting. In gynecology, the most common cause for its occurrence is lymph dissection leading to impairment of major lymphatic vessels. There are only a few reported cases of chylous ascites arising after operations for benign diseases. Case report: We report a case of a 46-year-old female patient, who underwent laparoscopy for a myomatous node with chylous ascites occurring on post-surgery Day 2. The ascites was conservatively managed. The exact cause of the chyloperitonitis could not be determined. Conclusion: Although extremely rarely, chylous ascites may also occur in operative interventions for benign diseases in gynecological surgery.

Hennekam syndrome: an uncommon cause of chylous ascites and intestinal lymphangiectasia in the tropics.

Paediatric chylous ascites in tropics is commonly caused by infections and trauma. We describe the clinical characteristics of an uncommon inherited cause of chylous ascites, Hennekam syndrome, treated by nutritional modification.

Quiloperitoneo en diálisis peritoneal: reporte de caso y revisión sistemática de la literatura / Chyloperitoneum in peritoneal dialysis: a case report and review of literature

El quiloperitoneo es una condición infrecuente que se asocia a diálisis peritoneal; en la mayoría de los casos se puede confundir con peritonitis bacteriana, aunque puede ser la consecuencia de esta infección. Se reporta el desarrollo espontáneo de quiloperitoneo en un paciente de 54 años con enfermedad renal crónica secundaria a nefropatía diabética, en diálisis peritoneal manual desde hacía 5 años. El tratamiento consistió en suspensión temporal de la diálisis peritoneal, reposo intestinal, suministro de una dieta con alto contenido de ácidos grasos de cadena media e infusión de octreotide, con lo cual a los 10 días el paciente mostró mejoría, y se reinició la diálisis peritoneal. Una búsqueda sistemática de la literatura encontró 16 casos publicados (11 mujeres), con edades desde neonato hasta 88 años.

Chyloperitoneum is a rare condition associated with peritoneal dialysis. In most cases it is misdiagnosed as bacterial peritonitis, but it can also be a consequence of this infection. We present the spontaneous development of chyloperitoneum in a 54 year old patient with chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetic nephropathy, in manual peritoneal dialysis for 5 years. The treatment consisted of temporary suspension of peritoneal dialysis, bowel rest, supply of a diet with a high content of medium chain fatty acids and infusion of octreotide. After 10 days the patient showed improvement, and peritoneal dialysis was restarted. A systematic search of the literature found 16 published cases (11 women), ranging in age from newborn to 88 years.

Sirolimus Therapy for Patients With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Leads to Loss of Chylous Ascites and Circulating LAM Cells.

A young woman received a diagnosis of abdominal, sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and multiple abdominal lymphangioleiomyomas and was referred for recurrent chylous ascites responding only to a fat-free diet. On admission, pulmonary function test (PFT) results showed a moderate reduction in the transfer factor for carbon monoxide with normal exercise performance. The serum vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) level was 2,209 pg/mL. DNA sequences, amplified at loci kg8, D16S3395, D16S3024, D16S521, and D16S291 on chromosome 16p13.3, showed a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) only for kg8. Fat-free total parenteral nutrition in association with sirolimus (2 mg po daily) was initiated. Serum sirolimus levels were maintained at concentrations between 5 and 15 ng/mL. After 1 month, reintroduction of a low-fat oral feeding was achieved without recurrence of ascites. PFT results were stable. Interestingly, clinical improvement was associated with a reduction in the VEGF-D serum level (1,558 pg/mL). LOH at the kg8 biomarker in blood LAM cells was no longer detected.

Chylothorax and chylous ascites: management and pitfalls.

Leakage of lymph from the lymphatic ducts causes chylothorax (CT) or chylous ascitis (CA). This may happen for unknown reasons during fetal life or after birth and may also be caused by trauma after thoracic surgery or by other conditions. Fetal CT and CA may be lethal particularly in cases with fetal hydrops that sometimes benefit of intra-uterine instrumentation. After birth, symptoms are related to the amount of accumulated fluid. Sometimes, severe cardio-respiratory compromise prompts active therapy. Most patients with CT or CA benefit from observation, rest, and supportive measures alone. Drainage of the fluid may be necessary, but then loss of protein, fat, and lymphoid cells introduce new risks and require careful replacement. Low-fat diets with MCT and parenteral nutrition decrease fluid production while allowing adequate nutritional input. If lymph leakage does not stop, secretion inhibitors like somatostatin or octreotide are prescribed, although there is only weak evidence of their benefits. Imaging of the lymphatic system is indicated when the leaks persist, but this is technically demanding in children. Shunting of the lymph from one body space to another by means of valved catheters, embolization of the thoracic duct, and/or ligation of the major lymphatics may occasionally be indicated in cases refractory to all other treatments.

Successful management of chylous ascites with total parenteral nutrition and octreotide in children / Éxito de la gestión de la ascitis con nutrición parenteral total y octreótida en niños

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of total parenteral nutrition and octreotide on pediatric patients with chylous ascites post-operative. Methods: Four patients were diagnosed with chylous ascites from Nov 2009 to Nov 2012. Total parenteral nutrition and octreotide was administered to 2 patients, while the other two only received fasting and total parenteral nutrition. All patients had persistent peritoneal drainage, with the quantity and quality of drainage fluid observed daily. Results: Two patients who received somatostatin therapy completely recovered within 7d without any recurrence while on a normal diet. The other two patients who only received fasting and total parenteral nutrition was cured 24-30d after therapy. Conclusion: Total parenteral nutrition along with octreotide can relieve the symptoms and close the chyle leakage in patients with chylous ascites rapidly. It seems to be an effective therapy available for the treatment of chylous ascites (AU)

Propósito: Evaluar los efectos de la nutrición parenteral total y el octreótido en pacientes pediátricos con ascitis quilosa posoperatoria. Métodos: Se diagnosticó a cuatro pacientes de ascitis quilosa entre noviembre de 2009 y noviembre de 2012. Se administraron nutrición parenteral total y octreótido a dos 2 parientes, mientras que los otros dos sólo recibieron ayuno y nutrición parenteral total. Todos los pacientes tuvieron drenaje peritoneal persistente, observándose la cantidad y calidad del líquido de drenaje a diario. Resultados: Los dos pacientes que recibieron el tratamiento con somatostatina se recuperaron por completo en 7 días, sin recurrencia cuando instauraron una dieta normal. Los otros dos pacientes que sólo realizaron ayuno y nutrición parenteral total se curaron después de 24-30 días de tratamiento. Conclusión: La nutrición parenteral total junto con el octreótido pueden aliviar rápidamente los síntomas y cerrar la fuga de quilo en pacientes con ascitis quilosa. Parece ser un tratamiento eficaz para la ascitis quilosa (AU)

[Octreotide treatment for postoperative chylous ascites in an adult]. / Ascitis quilosa posquirúrgica en un adulto tratada con octreótida.

Chylous ascites is infequent after abdominal surgery. We describe the case of a 43-year-old man with portal cavernomatosis who underwent surgery to insert a splenorenal shunt, which was not placed due to the absence of signs of portal hypertension. On postoperative day 20, the patient developed abdominal distension and mild dyspnea and was diagnosed with chylous ascites, which was related to the surgery. The patient was initially treated with diet and diuretics, with no clinical response, and consequently octreotide therapy was started. Four days later, the ascites was almost resolved and an ultrasound scan at 4 months showed its complete disappearance. This article demonstrates the effectiveness of octreotide in the treatment of postsurgical chylous ascites.

Resolution of chyloperitoneum in a preterm with octreotide, diet and cessation of dialysis.

The diagnosis of chyloperitoneum (CP) is based on the presence of high levels of triglycerides (TGs) in the dialysate. It is a rare complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and even rarer in neonates. We report here the case of CP in a 1700-g male baby delivered at the 30th gestational week due to posterior urethral valve and associated oligohydramnios. On postnatal day 2, the serum creatinine (Scr) was 1.6 mg/dL, and he was anuric. PD was instituted via a Tenckhoff catheter. At the end of the second week, after the initiation of enteral feeding, the ultrafiltrate became cloudy, with a leukocyte count of 900/mm(3). A treatment regimen consisting of intraperitoneal vancomycin and ceftazidime was then started. Five days later, the fluid became milky, with a TG level of 251 mg/dL. The patient was then placed on a diet based on medium-chain triglycerides and octreotide (1 microg/kg/h; increasing up to 2 microg/kg/h over 15 days). Although the TG and leukocyte levels decreased, the milky appearance persisted. PD was stopped for 2 days when the Scr decreased to 1.7 mg/dL. When it was resumed, the fluid was totally clear, with a TG level of 7 mg/dL. The infant was discharged with a nightly intermittent peritoneal dialysis program and has had no recurrence. In summary, we report a preterm infant who developed CP during PD and recovered following treatment that included diet modification, octreotide, and temporary discontinuation of the PD.

[Chylous ascites after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy]. / Chylöser Aszites nach laparoskopischer Nephroureterektomie.

A 65-year-old man underwent a laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with a radical retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for transitional cell carcinoma in the pyelon of the left kidney associated with a paraaortal lymphadenopathy. Four weeks later the patient presented with weight loss, a distended abdomen and a swelling of the left hemiscrotum. With increasing complaints and the suspicion of a large lymphocele an exploratory laparoscopy with the possibility of a fenestration was performed. Intraoperatively the laparoscopy revealed a chylous ascites but failed to detect an injury to the lymph system and a localised leak. The ascites eventually resolved under a strict dietary regimen with a medium-chain triglyceride-based diet and repeated long-term drainage. We report this case to encourage a multimodal approach in this potentially fatal complication.

[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

A respeito de um caso de quilotórax bilateral e quiloascite espontâneos: aspectos clínicos e cirúrgicos / About a case of espontaneous bilateral chylothorax and chyloascitis: clinical and surgical aspects

Efusão quilosa pleural ou quilotórax significa acúmulo quiloso no espaço pleural, geralmente como ruptura secundária dos ductos linfáticos torácicos, que pode ser promovida por vários estímulos, desde trauma, doenças malignas até causas idiopáticas. É definido como uma efusão de linfa na cavidade pleural, podendo ter origem no tórax ou na cavidade abdominal, ou em ambos. É de aspecto leitoso, inodoro, branco, de pH alcalino com gravidade específica acima de 1012, bacteriostático, não irritativo à pleura. É opalescente, formado quando triglicérides de cadeia longa da dieta são transformados em quilomícrons de baixa densidade lipoprotéica secretados no intestino. O quilo é transportado através do ducto torácico e drenado na veia subclávia esquerda. O diagnóstico é baseado em análise clínica da efusão pleural contendo quilomícrons e níveis de triglicérides maior que 110 mg/dL como indicativo praticamente certo de efusão pleural quilosa. A conduta depende da causa e das circunstâncias individuais. Um relato de quilotórax bilateral e quiloascite espontâneos é apresentado com ótima evolução através de tratamento conservador com a utilização de dieta enteral oligomérica, rica em aminoácidos, com glutamina e mínima oferta de triglicérides de cadeia média e octeotride

Chylous pleural effusion or chylothorax means chyle accumulation in the pleural space generally as a secondary disruption of thoracic lymphatics, that can be promoted by various stimulants, since trauma, malignancies, to idiopathic causes. Is defined as an effusion of limphin pleural cavity. Chyle may have its origin in the thorax or in the abdomen, or both. Is a milky, white, alkaline pH with a specific gravity above 1012, bacteriostatic and nonirritating to thepleural space, opalescent fluid formed when long-chain triglycerides in the diet are transformed into chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoproteins and secreted into intestinal lacteals. The chyle is transported through the thoracic duct and drained into the left subclavian vein. Diagnosis is based on a chemical analysis of the pleural effusion presenting chylomicrons, pleural triglyceride with levels greater than 110 mg/dL being nearly always indicative of a chylous pleural effusion. Management depends on the underlying cause and the individual circumstances. A case report of spontaneous chylothorax and chyloascitis is presented successfullytreated by conservative means, using oligomeric enteral feeding, rich in amino acids with minimum quantity of medium-chain-triglycerides, glutamine, and octeotride

A rare case of chylous ascites and chyluria in an adult nephrotic syndrome with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

The authors report the first case of chylous ascites and chyluria in a 65-year-old Thai women with nephrotic syndrome due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), tip variant. She presented with generalized edema and abdominal discomfort. Abdominal paracentesis revealed milky white fluid. Chylous ascites was confirmed. Abdominal and thoracic computed tomography did not show any cause of chylous ascites and chyluruia. Lymphoscintigraphy could not demonstrate lymph flow obstruction and connection between lymphatic pathway and KUB system. Those could have explained the chylous ascites or chyluria. Hypoalbuminemia-induced bowel edema may predispose to change the permeability of mucosal or serosal lymphatics. This could result in chylous ascites but the cause of chyluria could not be determined in this case.

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 after laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Laparoscopic living-donor nephrectomy has decreased the disincentives to live renal donation with a risk of complications similar to that of open donor nephrectomy. We report a patient who developed chylous ascites after an otherwise-uneventful laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. On MEDLINE search, we could find only two other cases with similar complications. This condition has the potential to cause significant morbidity in the donor, which may reduce the advantages of the minimally invasive approach. We suggest that meticulous dissection of the renal hilum and clipping of lymphatic tissue around the renal vessels could prevent this untoward complication.