Retroperitoneoscopic lymphatic management of intractable chyluria

We present our experience with retroperitoneoscopic lymphatic disconnection for the treatment of patients with intractable chyluria and review the current literature.

Our study included 6 males and 3 females 22 to 55 years old who presented with intractable chyluria of filarial origin and variable duration (2 to 11 years), and were selected for retroperitoneoscopic management of 11 renoureteral units. Diagnosis was based on urine examination for the presence of chyle and fat globules, cystoscopy, excretory urogram and retrograde ureteropyelography. The technique of retroperitoneoscopic management of chyluria consisted of nephrolympholysis, ureterolympholysis, hilar vessel stripping, fasciectomy and nephropexy. The first 3 procedures were done in all cases, whereas fasciectomy was only done in 4 cases and nephropexy in 3 as required.

Chyluria disappeared in all ipsilateral renal units of the patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic management but it recurred in 2 patients at 1 and 9 months of followup from the contralateral side. Both cases have since been successfully treated with contralateral retroperitoneoscopic management. Complications included lymphatic leak through the drain which persisted for 5 days in 1 case and an inadvertent clipping of a branch of the posterior segmental artery of the kidney in 1. The latter patient did not have pain or hypertension and the renal scan did not reveal any focal deficit at followup. All patients were followed periodically from 6 months to 41/2 years (mean of 31 months).

The objectives of open surgical treatment of intractable chyluria can be achieved by the minimally invasive retroperitoneoscopic technique. Nephrolympholysis, ureterolympholysis and stripping of hilar vessels were essential in all cases. Fasciectomy and nephrectomy were done in a few patients and as mentioned are not recommended routinely. This approach has all of the benefits of laparoscopic surgery without compromising the principles of open surgery. Retroperitoneoscopic management was safe, effective and efficient.