Chyle fistula in right cervical area after thyroid surgery

Clin Transl Oncol. 2008 Sep;10(9):593-6. doi: 10.1007/s12094-008-0257-4.

Abstract

Thoracic duct injury is an infrequent (1-2.5%) but severe complication after neck surgery, leading to nutritional, metabolic and immunologic deficiencies. We report a case of a 34-year-old woman with a right thoracic duct injury after surgery of a thyroid medullar cancer effectively treated with conservative management (parenteral nutrition and intravenous somatostatin). Optimal treatment of these patients is unclear, without a clear limit between conservative and surgical treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Stem Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Stem Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Stem Neoplasms / surgery
  • Chyle*
  • Endocrine Surgical Procedures / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Fistula / drug therapy
  • Fistula / etiology*
  • Fistula / surgery
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Intraoperative Complications / etiology
  • Intraoperative Complications / surgery
  • Neck Dissection / adverse effects*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Somatostatin / therapeutic use
  • Thoracic Duct / injuries*
  • Thoracic Duct / surgery
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Somatostatin