Summary
Traditional operative management for chylous drainage refractory to conservative therapy is thoracic duct ligation via right open thoracotomy. This case report details successful thoracoscopic ligation of the thoracic duct for a chylous leak following a left neck dissection. Since the thoracoscopic approach is less morbid than open thoracotomy, early operative management is recommended for thoracic duct injuries.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler RH, Levinsky L (1978) Persistent chylothorax: treatment by talc pleurodesis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 76: 859–864
Akaogi E, Mitsui K, Sohara Y, Endo S, Ishikawa S, Hori M (1989) Treatment of postoperative chylothorax with intrapleural fibrin glue. Ann Thorac Surg 48: 116–118
Bolger C, Walsh TN, Tanner WA, et al (1991) Chylothorax after oesophagectomy. Br J Surg 78: 587–588
Breaux JR, Mark C (1988) Chylothorax causing reversible T-cell depletion. J Trauma 28: 705–707
Dulchavsky SA, Ledgerwood AM, Lucas CE (1988) Management of chylothorax after blunt chest trauma. J Trauma 28: 1400–1401
Ferguson MK, Little AG, Skinner DB (1985) Current concepts in the management of postoperative of postoperative chylothorax. Ann Thorac Surg 40: 534–545
Goorwitch J (1955) Traumatic chylothorax and thoracic duct ligation: case report and review of literature. J Thor Surg 29: 467
Kitchen ND, Hocken DB, Greenhalgh RM, et al (1991) Use of the Denver pleuroperitoneal shunt in the treatment of chylothorax secondary to filariasis. Thorax 46: 144–145
Lampson RS (1948) Traumatic chylothorax: A review of the literature and report of a case treated by mediastinal ligation of the thoracic duct. Thoracic Surg 17: 778–791
Little AG, Kadowaki MH, Ferguson MK, Staszek VM, Skinner DB (1988) Pleuroperitoneal shunting, alternative therapy for pleural effusions. Ann Surg 208: 443–450
McWilliams BC, Fair LL, Murphy SA (1991) Transient T-cell depression in postoperative chylothorax. J Pediatr 99: 595–597
Murphy MC, Newman BM, Rogers BM (1989) Pleuroperitoneal shunts in the management of persistent chylothorax. Ann Thorac Surg 48: 195–200
Murphy TO, Piper CA (1977) Surgical management of chylothorax. Am Surg 43: 715–718
O'Neill JN (1965) Ligation of the thoracic duct for chylothorax due to blunt trauma. Am Surg 31: 757–758
Sade RM, Wiles H (1990) Pleuroperitoneal shunt for persistent pleural drainage after Fontan procedure. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 100: 621–623
Selle JG, Snyder WH, Schrider JT (1973) Chylothorax indication for surgery. Ann Surg 177: 244–249
Shirai T, Amano J, Takabe K (1991) Thoracoscopic diagnosis and treatment of chylothorax after pneumonectomy. Ann Thorac Surg 52: 306–307
Spiro JD, Spiro RH, Strong EW, et al (1990) The management of chyle fistula. Laryngoscope 100: 771–774
Stringel G, Mercer S, Bass J (1984) Surgical management of persistent postoperative chylothorax in children. Can J Surg 27: 543–546
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kent, R.B., Pinson, T.W. Thoracoscopic ligation of the thoracic duct. Surg Endosc 7, 52–53 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00591238
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00591238