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Surgical Endoscopy
Published in: Surgical Endoscopy 5/2012

01-05-2012

Prevention of postoperative chylothorax with thoracic duct ligation during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer

Authors: Wei Guo, Yun-Ping Zhao, Yao-Guang Jiang, Hui-Jun Niu, Xue-Hai Liu, Zheng Ma, Ru-Wen Wang

Published in: Surgical Endoscopy | Issue 5/2012

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Abstract

Background

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a feasible technique that has been shown to be safe for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Chylothorax remains a challenging and potentially life-threatening postoperative complication of MIE. In this retrospective series, we evaluated the results of preventive intraoperative thoracic duct ligation in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer.

Methods

From May 2009 to June 2010, 70 video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomies for cancer of the esophagus (group A) were performed without prophylactic thoracic duct ligation. Since June 2010, 65 patients (group B) with esophageal cancer underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy with routine ligation of the thoracic duct during the operation.

Results

No intraoperative or postoperative complications directly related to thoracic duct ligation were recorded. Postoperative chylothorax occurred in seven patients in group A and in one patient in group B (P = 0.0375).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that thoracic duct ligation during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer is an effective and safe method for prevention of postoperative chylothorax.
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Metadata
Title
Prevention of postoperative chylothorax with thoracic duct ligation during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer
Authors
Wei Guo
Yun-Ping Zhao
Yao-Guang Jiang
Hui-Jun Niu
Xue-Hai Liu
Zheng Ma
Ru-Wen Wang
Publication date
01-05-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Surgical Endoscopy / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 0930-2794
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2218
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-011-2032-3

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