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Chylous ascites after oncological abdominal surgery: incidence and treatment
R Kaas1, L D Rustman, F A Zoetmulder
1Department of Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Ant. van Leeuwenhoek Ziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Aims:
Chylous ascites can be a problem after oncological abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to report the incidence and the management of the problem.
Methods:
A retrospective study over a 2-year period of all oncological patients undergoing abdominal surgical procedures was carried out. Patients with resections in the upper abdomen and retroperitoneum were studied in more detail.
Results:
Twelve (7.4%) of 163 patients with complex surgical procedures developed a chyloperitoneum. Chylous ascites stopped in time with conservative management in nine patients. Three patients had a peritoneovenous shunt inserted with success. No relaparotomies to ligate leaking intestinal lymph vessels were necessary.