The deep inferior epigastric lymphatic cable flap connected to gastroepiploic lymph node flap for treatment of refractory chylous ascites: Report of two cases.

Chylous ascites is the leakage of lipid-rich lymph into the peritoneal cavity usually due to disruption of lymphatics or increased peritoneal lymphatic pressure. Various surgical options have been proposed to treat chylous ascites but most have shown suboptimal outcomes. The gastroepiploic vascularized lymph node (GE-VLN) flap has been described previously for the treatment of lymphedema. In chylous ascites, this flap could provide an alternate drainage pathway for the intraperitoneal chylous fluid. The purpose of this report is to present another option for the microsurgical treatment of refractory chylous ascites. Herein, we report two patients with refractory chylous ascites secondary to cancer who have undergone deep inferior epigastric-based lymphatic "cable" flap (DIE-LCF) connected to a pedicle GE-VLN flap. Patients were followed-up for a minimum of 2 years. Within the first 3 months following surgery, the patient's nutritional parameters improved along with drastic reduction of ascites. At 2 years follow-up postoperative abdominal circumference decreased significantly. None required further peritoneal paracentesis and all patients were free of chylous ascites symptoms. In conclusion, the DIE-LCF connected to a pedicle GE-VLN flap could be a feasible option for the microsurgical treatment of refractory chylous ascites.

Tratamiento de quilotórax y quiloascitis refractaria en paciente cirrótico. Caso clínico

Chylous Ascites (CA) and chylothorax (CTx) are associated with obstruction, disruption or insufficiency of the lymphatic system. We report a 68-year-old male, with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis, who had recurrent events of CTx and CA. After a complete study, no other etiologies other than portal hypertension were found. Therapy with diuretics, nothing per mouth, parenteral feeding plus octreotide did not relieve symptoms. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was successfully placed and pleural effusion subsided. This case shows that CA and CTx can be caused by portal hypertension and they may subside employing a multimodal management strategy.

Chylous ascites developing after open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a patient with marfan syndrome

Abstract Chylous ascites is the pathologic accumulation of chylous fluid in the peritoneal cavity, caused by lymphomas, metastatic malignancies, and abdominal surgeries, rarely due to surgical trauma of the cisterna chyli or its major branches. A 24-year-old man with history of Marfan syndrome presented to our hospital with abdominal distention, abdominal pain, fluid in the incision region, and weakness. He had underwent an elective open aneurysm repair surgery nine days before for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Computed tomography revealed massive fluid collection in the abdominal cavity, which was drained surgically. He was diagnosed with chylous ascites and was discharged after conservative treatment.

Chylous Ascites Developing after Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome.

Chylous ascites is the pathologic accumulation of chylous fluid in the peritoneal cavity, caused by lymphomas, metastatic malignancies, and abdominal surgeries, rarely due to surgical trauma of the cisterna chyli or its major branches. A 24-year-old man with history of Marfan syndrome presented to our hospital with abdominal distention, abdominal pain, fluid in the incision region, and weakness. He had underwent an elective open aneurysm repair surgery nine days before for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Computed tomography revealed massive fluid collection in the abdominal cavity, which was drained surgically. He was diagnosed with chylous ascites and was discharged after conservative treatment.

[Management of chylous ascites and chylothorax. Report of one case]. / Tratamiento de quilotórax y quiloascitis refractaria en paciente cirrótico. Caso clínico.

Chylous Ascites (CA) and chylothorax (CTx) are associated with obstruction, disruption or insufficiency of the lymphatic system. We report a 68-year-old male, with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis, who had recurrent events of CTx and CA. After a complete study, no other etiologies other than portal hypertension were found. Therapy with diuretics, nothing per mouth, parenteral feeding plus octreotide did not relieve symptoms. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was successfully placed and pleural effusion subsided. This case shows that CA and CTx can be caused by portal hypertension and they may subside employing a multimodal management strategy.

Ascitis quilosa tras colecistectomía: presentación de un caso / Chylous ascites after cholecystectomy: case report and literatura review

INTRODUCCIÓN: La ascitis quilosa es la presencia de líquido linfático en la cavidad peritoneal. Como consecuencia de una cirugía abdominal es muy infrecuente, encontrando 5 casos previos en la literatura revisada tras colecistectomía. OBJETIVO: Presentar un caso clínico de ascitis quilosa poscolecistectomía, su manejo y una revisión de la literatura. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Varón de 77 años, quiloperitoneo 21 días después de realización de colecistectomía programada por colecistitis aguda. Resultados: Se realiza drenaje percutáneo con débito de 5 L en 24 horas, se inicia octreótido subcutáneo y nutrición parenteral total. Al tercer día disminuye el débito por el drenaje, por lo que se inicia dieta rica en triglicéridos de cadena media con buena evolución posterior. De los 5 casos previos tras colecistectomía, el 60% se resolvió con tratamiento conservador, un paciente precisó reintervención y otro colocación de un shunt portosistémico intrahepático trasnyugular (TIPSS). CONCLUSIÓN: La ascitis quilosa es una complicación postquirúrgica infrecuente, encontrando solo 5 casos previos tras colecistectomía. Inicialmente el manejo debe ser conservador, en caso de persistencia se deben valorar otras medidas.

INTRODUCTION: Chylous ascites is defined as the presence of lymph fluid in the peritoneal cavity. It is a rare complication after abdominal surgery; only 5 previously reported cases were found after cholecystectomy. Aim: Present a case report and a literature review. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Case report of a 77 year old male who underwent an elective cholecystectomy due to acute cholecystitis. Chyloperitoneum showed up 21 days after surgery. RESULTS: We performed a percutaneous drainage and 5 L of fluid were removed in 24 hours. We started treatment with subcutaneous Octreotide and total parenteral nutrition. After 3 days drain output decreased and we started a medium-chain triglycerides diet with good progress. The outcome of 60% of the 5 previous case reports of chyloperitoneum after cholecystitis, were successful with conservative management, surgical intervention was needed in one patient and a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) was placed in another patient. CONCLUSION: Chylous ascites is a rare complication after surgery, there are only 5 previously case reports after cholecystectomy. Conservative management has to be the first option and in case of persistence another therapy has to be considered.

Ascitis quilosa post cirugía abdominal: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Chylous ascites management: clinical case and literature review

Chylous ascites is a peritoneal collection with milky appearance, rich in triglycerides produced by the presence of thoracic or intestinal lymph in the abdominal cavity. The increasing number of surgical interventions has meant an increase of this disease in the last time. We present the case of a 39-yearsold woman with a history of a retroperitoneal cystic lesion in the abdominal ultrasound, which was a finding, and was followed up for 5 years. In the last control abdominal ultrasound showed an accelerated growth, the study was complemented with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the abdomen showed a retroperitoneal cystic lesion, 7 cm larger diameter in contact with aorta, left ureter and lower pole of the left kidney, suspecting malignancy, reason why its surgical resection was decided. It evolved after the surgical intervention with progressive increase of the abdominal perimeter, diffuse pain and early satiety, performing abdominal ultrasound showing a liver of normal structure with moderate ascites. The diagnostic paracentesis gave out 1,000 mL of milky-white liquid with triglycerides of 1,287 mg/dL. The diagnosis of chylous ascites was proposed, secondary to thoracic duct injury and it was managed with a diet with low intake of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, with medium chain triglycerides with favorable results. The pathophysiology, etiology, nutritional and non-nutritional management of chylous ascites are discussed.

La ascitis quilosa es una colección peritoneal con apariencia lechosa, rica en triglicéridos producido por la presencia de linfa torácica o intestinal en la cavidad abdominal. El creciente número de intervenciones quirúrgicas ha significado un aumento de esta patología en el último tiempo. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 39 años, con historia de una lesión retroperitoneal quística en la ecotomografía abdominal, que fue un hallazgo, realizándose seguimiento por 5 años. En la última ecotomografía de control presentó crecimiento acelerado por lo que se complementa estudio con una Resonancia Nuclear Magnética de abdomen que muestro lesión quística retroperitoneal de 7 cm de diámetro mayor en contacto con aorta, uréter izquierdo y polo inferior del riñón izquierdo, sospechándose malignidad, por lo que se decide su resección. Evolucionó posterior a la intervención quirúrgica con aumento progresivo del perímetro abdominal, dolor difuso y saciedad precoz, realizándose ecotomografía abdominal que muestra un hígado de estructura normal con ascitis moderada. La paracentesis diagnóstica dio salida a 1.000 mL de líquido blanquecino de aspecto lechoso con triglicéridos de 1.287 mg/dL. Se planteó el diagnóstico de ascitis quilosa, secundario a lesión del conducto torácico y se manejó con dieta con bajo aporte en grasas saturadas, poliinsaturadas y monoinsaturadas, con aporte de triglicéridos de cadena media con resultados favorables. Se discuten la fisiopatología, etiología, manejo nutricional y no nutricional de la ascitis quilosa.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Acute Neonatal Ascites.

We present a 4-week-old neonate with acute onset of bloody stools and abdominal distention. Point-of-care ultrasound performed in the emergency department allowed for rapid diagnosis of a large amount of free intra-abdominal fluid, which together with the physical findings, prompted emergent operative exploration revealing chylous ascites. Although no areas of active volvulus were identified intraoperatively, findings in the case were suggestive of small bowel volvulus and deemed as the most likely etiology for this patient's presentation. In this report, we review the relevant aspects of ultrasonography for ascites and discuss the diagnosis of chylous ascites.

Ascitis quilosa asociada a pancreatitis aguda / Chylous ascites associated with acute pancreatitis

Background: Chylous ascites is defined as the presence of thoracic or intestinal lymph in the abdominal cavity. Its association with acute pancreatitis is uncommon. Aim: To report three cases of chilous ascites related with acute pancreatitis. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of three patients with chylous ascites associated with acute pancreatitis. Results: We report three patients with chylous ascites out of 2,188 admissions for acute pancreatitis (0.13 percent). A 39 years old male with a pancreatic pseudocyst. During surgery, chylous ascites was found. He was successfully treated with octreotide and spironolactone. A 71 years male operated for an acute cholecystitis and a perivesicular abscess. Three days after surgery, a chylous fluid appears in the abdominal drainage, which disappears spontaneously. A 73 years old female operated for an acute pancreatitis. During surgery a chylous ascites is found. The patient died four days after surgery. Conclusions: Chylous ascites associated with pancreatitis is uncommon and octreotide may have a therapeutic role for it.

Introducción: La ascitis quilosa (AQ) se define como la presencia de linfa de origen torácico o intestinal en la cavidad abdominal. Asociada a Pancreatitis Aguda (PA), sólo se han documentado 12 casos hasta 2013. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar tres nuevos casos y realizar una revisión de la presentación, clínica, diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta entidad. Material y Métodos: Se recogen los datos clínicos y evolutivos de tres pacientes con AQ secundaria a pancreatitis aguda (AQPA); esta se ha definido como la presencia de linfa en cavidad abdominal en un paciente con episodio de pancreatitis aguda reciente y sin antecedente traumático, infeccioso, neoplásico o quirúrgico que pudiera ser el responsable de la misma. Se han recogido igualmente todos los casos documentados hasta 2013. Resultados: En los últimos 10 años han sido ingresados 2.188 pacientes por PA entre los cuales, se han diagnosticado 3 casos de AQPA (0,13 por ciento), dos hombres y una mujer, con PA de origen biliar. El diagnóstico ha sido "de visu" intra o postoperatorio. El débito inicial fue de 3.000, 300 y 1.500 cc. El tratamiento ha contado con octeótrido de entrada en todos los casos. En la revisión bibliográfica la AQPA ha sido diagnosticada también "de visu" y los pacientes se han resuelto con tratamiento conservador, tardando una media de 27,7 días si se utiliza octeótrido frente a 46,5 días si no se le ha prescrito. Conclusiones: La AQ asociada a PA sigue siendo infrecuente, su diagnóstico es "de visu" y se resuelve con tratamiento conservador, siendo el octeótrido un fármaco de primera línea.

[Constrictive pericarditis: the story of a constrained heart]. / Pericarditis constrictiva: historia de un corazón oprimido.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of constrictive pericarditis may be nonspecific, misleading and may delay or lead to an incorrect diagnosis. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 28-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital with progressive dyspnea, thoracic pain and a history of 25 kg of weight gain during the last 2 years. He was evaluated at another facility and his clinical presentation led to an erroneous diagnosis of primary hepatic disease (cirrhosis and portal hypertension). Physical examination showed that he was dyspneic, emaciated, had marked distention of his frontal cranial veins, diminished heart sounds, massive ascites and leg edema. Laboratory tests reported abnormal liver function tests and abdominal paracentesis chylous ascites. Electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm with generalized low voltage and nonspecific repolarization changes. Heart size was normal on chest radiography. Doppler echocardiography reported bilateral atrial dilatation, a thickened pericardium and a short deceleration time of transmitral flow. A thickened and calcified pericardium was seen on CT scan. Pericardiectomy was performed. Spontaneous polyuria was observed during and after surgery with subsequent improvement of ascites and edema. The pericardium was found to be grossly thickened and inflamed. CONCLUSIONS: Clinician must be aware of the slow and progressive course of right ventricular failure, as well as to recognize constrictive pericarditis as a cause of chronic ascites.The hemodynamic aspects of the disease are of paramount importance for early diagnosis and opportune treatment.

Chylous ascites in gynecologic malignancies: cases report and literature review.

PURPOSE: Chylous ascites is an infrequent postoperative complication after retroperitoneal surgical procedure. Despite its infrequent occurrence, postoperative chylous ascites are associated with significant morbidity. Reports of chylous ascites or fistula after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for gynecologic malignancies without radiation therapy are rare. A search in the English literature showed only 31 cases of chylous fistula for gynecologic malignancies. Treatment may be conservative with low-fat oral diet with medium-chain triglycerides associated or not to octreotide and total parenteral nutrition. In case of conservative measures failure, it can be managed by surgical intervention or peritoneo-venous shunt. METHODS: We report two cases of chylous fistula following systematic pelvic and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for gynecological cancer without radiotherapy and review the literature. RESULTS: Both were successfully managed with the maintenance of the postoperative drain, total parenteral nutrition, octreotide and dietary intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Chylous ascites should be included in differential diagnosis of abdominal distention after surgical retroperitoneal approach or radiotherapy. Most of the patients may have their chylous ascites successfully treated with conservative management. However, the best policy is to prevent chylous complications by employing meticulous dissection techniques and careful control of the major lymphatics by suture ligation during the primary surgical intervention.

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

Case report: laparoscopic management of massive chylous ascites after salvage laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection.

Chylous ascites is an infrequent complication of retroperitoneal surgery. We describe a patient who suffered massive chylous ascites after simultaneous pneumonectomy and laparoscopic excision of a post-chemotherapy tumor mass. After conservative management failed, exploratory laparoscopy identified the site of the leak, which was clipped and closed with fibrin glue. There has been no recurrence in the ensuing 5 years.

Chylous ascites as the main manifestation of left ventricular dysfunction: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ascites is one of the most common complications of liver diseases, even though in 15% of the cases it is related to extrahepatic diseases; 3% are of cardiac nature and they appear associated with signs and symptoms of heart failure. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70 year old man was admitted with more than one year history of abdominal distension and a weight gain of 10 kilograms. He is asymptomatic and walks 2000-3000 meters a day without angor or dyspnea. The physical examination shows moderate abdominal distension, with no hepatosplenomegaly or edema, and there is mild jugular vein distension. The studies performed (complete laboratory work up, paracentesis, liver biopsy, echocardiogram, intrahepatic pressure measurements, etc.) showed a chylous ascites related to portal hypertension, and left ventricular dysfunction was the only probable cause found. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic heart dysfunction can mimic liver disease and should be kept in mind as a cause of chylous ascites.

Postoperative chylous ascites: a rare complication of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

The accumulation of chylous fluid in the abdominal cavity is an infrequent, yet alarming, complication in abdominal surgery. Laparoscopic fundoplication has assumed a central role in the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and is significantly altering the balance of therapy toward more common and earlier surgical intervention. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman with gastroesophageal reflux disease and intense esophagitis who underwent a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in February 2000. The procedure was performed without apparent complications. Twenty days later, the patient complained of abdominal pain and distension. Ultrasonography showed ascites, whereas endoscopic and radiological exploration of the fundoplication demonstrated no abnormalities. A paracentesis was performed, which showed a milky fluid with high concentrations of triglycerides (1024 ng/dL) and cholesterol (241 ng/dL). The patient was treated successfully with total parenteral nutrition for 3 weeks, followed by a low-fat diet. To our knowledge, this is the third reported case of chylous ascites after a Nissen fundoplication and the second case after laparoscopic fundoplication. The development of chylous ascites seems to be related to the injury of lymphatic vessels, including the thoracic duct, during the retroesophageal window dissection. The careful dissection and judicious use of diathermy is proposed to prevent this rare complication.

Linfadenectomía lumboaórtica laparoscópica post quimioterapia / Laparoscopic lumboaortic lymphadenectomy after chemotherapy

La linfadenectomía lumboaórtica post quimioterapia es el único método que ofrece posibilidades de etapificación y curación en masas residuales. Entre mayo de 1993 y agosto de 2001 se realizaron 104 linfadenectomía lumboaórtica en pacientes con cáncer de testículo, de ellos 11 (10,57 por ciento) fueron por masas retroperitoneales post quimioterapia. El promedio de edad fue 24,36 años. El estadio clínico fue IIa 4 (36,36 por ciento), IIb en 5 (45,45 por ciento), y IIc en 2 (18,18 por ciento). El tiempo operatorio promedio fue de 124 minutos (100-170 minutos), el sangrado promedio fue de 75 cc (0-300 cc), el tiempo de hospitalización en horas fue de 52,8 (24-144 horas), el tamaño promedio de las masas resecadas fue de 3,7 cm (2-8 cm). Hubo 1 conversión. La única complicación post operatoria correspondió a una Ascitis Quilosa masiva resuelta laparoscópicamente. El seguimiento promedio fue de 8, 5 meses. En nuestra experiencia inicial podemos ver una disminución de los tiempos operatorios y de hospitalización comparadas con lo descrito en la literatura. Consideramos que la cirugía laparoscópica de rescate en masas retroperitoneales post quimioterapia es un procedimiento técnicamente posible. Es importante considerar las limitaciones que determinan el tamaño de la masa y el hecho de que la cirugía laparoscópica es, hasta ahora, un procedimiento unilateral. La linfadenectomía lumboaórtica laparoscópica post quimioterapia tiene indicaciones limitadas