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Published in: BMC Surgery 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Case report

Acute pancreatitis after thoracic duct ligation for iatrogenic chylothorax. A case report

Authors: Benoît Bédat, Cosimo Riccardo Scarpa, Samira Mercedes Sadowski, Frédéric Triponez, Wolfram Karenovics

Published in: BMC Surgery | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

To report the association between thoracic duct ligation and acute pancreatitis. The association between sudden stop of lymphatic flow and pancreatitis has been established in experimental models.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old woman operated for thymoma presented a iatrogenic chylothorax. After thoracic duct ligation, she presented an acute pancreatitis which resolved after conservative treatment. The chylothorax disappeared within 4 days of thoracic duct ligation.

Conclusions

This is the first report of acute pancreatitis following thoracic duct ligation. The pancreas and digestive tract should be assessed in symptomatic patients after thoracic duct ligation.
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Metadata
Title
Acute pancreatitis after thoracic duct ligation for iatrogenic chylothorax. A case report
Authors
Benoît Bédat
Cosimo Riccardo Scarpa
Samira Mercedes Sadowski
Frédéric Triponez
Wolfram Karenovics
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Surgery / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2482
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-017-0204-3

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