[A Case Report of Chylous Ascites after Laparoscopic Sigmoid Colectomy Treated with Conservative Therapy]

A man in his sixties with a medical history of diabetes and dyslipidemia was detected with a tumor with massive submucosal invasion on colonoscopy. He was diagnosed with sigmoid cancer and underwent laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy with D3 lymph node dissection. An electric surgical knife and an ultrasonically activated device was used to perform D3 lymph node dissection with preservation of the left colic artery(LCA)and division of the S1A and S2A. On postoperative day 4(POD4), 1 day after oral intake was started, chylous ascites began to develop. Owing to the small volume of ascites, oral feeding was continued, and chylous ascites was treated successfully with a low-fat diet. Chylous ascites immediately reduced on POD6, after which the drain was removed on POD7. He was discharged on POD9. Fasting and complete parenteral nutrition are not necessarily required in the treatment of chyle leakage after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.