[Complication related to operative procedure in lung cancer and mediastinal malignancy--report of 6 cases]

Of the patients who underwent surgical treatment for the respiratory system at our hospital over the past 9 years, 6 were postoperatively complicated with chylothorax, 1 with liquorrhea and the other one with paraplegia. Chylothorax occurred after mediastinal lymph node dissection which was carried out for the treatment of malignant tumors. In five cases, it occurred on the left side, and in the sixth case, it occurred on the right side. In 2 patients who received conservative treatment, there was no reduction in chyle outflow, and they died of cerebral infarction and sepsis. The other 4 cases were surgically treated. In 3 of them, the impaired site of the thoracic duct was confirmed by administration of Sudan III before surgery. We confirmed that early reoperation for the chylothorax after lung resection should be performed. Liquorrhea occurred from the 5th costvertebral joint which had been directly infiltrated by lung carcinoma. Fortunately, the postoperative course was uneventful, though the patient complained of dizziness and headache until 14 postoperative days. The case of paraplegia was caused by oxydized cellulose cotton that entered the epidural space via the intervertebral foramen. It was used for hemostasis in the 5th costvertebral joint. This case indicates that oxydized cellulose cotton, which swells when it absorbs water, should be carefully used for hemostasis around the nerves.