Early diagnosis of chyle fistula with SD LipidoCare after neck dissection.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the results of chyle fistula testing using the SD LipidoCare system in patients who had undergone neck dissections performed in our hospital in 2019. METHOD: Sixty patients who underwent neck dissections from March 2019 to November 2019 were identified based on their medical records. RESULTS: Post-operative chyle fistulas were observed in 3 of 60 patients (5 per cent). All patients who developed chyle fistulas had undergone left-sided neck dissections. Within 3 minutes, the SD LipidoCare test had produced triglyceride results of 49, 56 and 207 mg/dl in the three patients. The remaining 57 patients measured 'low' for triglycerides on the SD LipidoCare test system. CONCLUSION: The SD LipidoCare test quickly and accurately diagnosed chyle fistulas in patients who had undergone neck dissections. All patients improved with conservative treatment following the early diagnosis of chyle fistulas.