Chlyous leak after radical oesophagectomy: Thoracic duct lymphangiography and embolisation (TDE)-A case report

Chyle leak after oesophagectomy is highly morbid and may carry significant mortality if treatment is delayed. Identification of the site of leakage and surgery may be plagued by failure.

We describe a case of chyle leak after oesophagectomy. Lymphangiography revealed the site of chyle leak to be an aberrant duct that would have been difficult to identify surgically. Radiological coiling and embolization successfully treated the leak.

The gold standard for treatment of chyle leak or chylothorax after oesophagectomy was a re-operation, either open or throracoscopic, to ligate the thoracic duct. The interventional radiological technique employed in our case was not only efficacious in stopping the leak, but had the added advantage of identifying the site and highlighting the anatomy hence avoiding a morbid reoperation. The literature is reviewed.

The report and review confirm that lymphangiography followed by coiling and embolization for chylothorax post oesophagectomy is safe and effective in a majority of cases.