Chyle leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute biliary pancreatitis: a case report

Chyle leakage is a rare complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with only one such case being previously reported in the English literature. We report on a 69-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute biliary pancreatitis; a chylous effluent was draining from the drain tube 3 days postoperatively. The chyle leak resolved gradually with dietary manipulation. Subsequent lymphoscintigraphy revealed no sign of lymphatic leakage. According to reported studies, postoperative chyle leakage generally has a more favorable outcome than that of chyle leakage from other causes. Initial treatment should be conservative, with surgical intervention reserved for refractory cases. Both the severity of the chyle leak and lymphoscintigraphy helped to predict the outcome of conservative treatment. A recent episode of acute biliary pancreatitis may be a risk factor for the development of chyle leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.