Related Experiment Videos
Chylous ascites following abdominal aortic surgery.
R A Williams1, J Vetto, W Quiñones-Baldrich
1Department of Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA, Torrance 90509.
Annals of Vascular Surgery
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Chylous ascites is a rare complication after aortic surgery. Management strategies include spontaneous resolution, surgical fistula ligation, or peritoneal venous shunts, potentially avoiding prolonged hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Postoperative chylous ascites is a rare complication following aortic surgeries.
- This condition typically manifests approximately two weeks after operation, sometimes after hospital discharge.
Observation:
- Three patients (two female, one male, mean age 74) developed chylous ascites after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or aortobifemoral surgery.
- Clinical presentation included abdominal swelling, milky fluid on paracentesis, and low serum albumin levels.
- Conservative management with nutritional changes (parenteral nutrition, dietary fat modification) was ineffective.
Findings:
- One patient experienced spontaneous resolution of chylous ascites two months post-surgery.
- Another patient was successfully treated with surgical ligation of a lymphatic fistula.
- A third patient resolved immediately after placement of a peritoneal venous shunt.
Implications:
- Chylous ascites after aortic surgery has an indolent course but can be managed effectively with surgical intervention.
- Early surgical treatment, such as fistula ligation or shunt placement, may prevent prolonged hospitalization.
- Further research into optimal timing and techniques for surgical management is warranted.