Treatment of Chylothorax after Lung Resection: Indications, Timing, and Outcomes

Multidisciplinary management of adult patients with chylothorax: a consensus statement

The management of chylothorax remains challenging given the limited evidence and significant heterogeneity in practice. In addition, there are no practical guidelines on the optimal approach to manage this complex condition. We convened an international group of 27 experts from 20 institutions across five countries and four specialties (pulmonary, interventional radiology, thoracic surgery and nutrition) with experience and expertise in managing adult patients with chylothorax. We performed a literature and internet search for reports addressing seven clinically relevant PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome) questions pertaining to the management of adult patients with chylothorax. This consensus statement, consisting of best practice statements based on expert consensus addressing these seven PICO questions, was formulated by a systematic and rigorous process involving the evaluation of published evidence, augmented with provider experience. Panel members participated in the development of the final best practice statements using the modified Delphi technique. Our consensus statement aims to offer guidance in clinical decision making when managing patients with chylothorax while also identifying gaps in knowledge and informing future research.

Prognostic significance of Pleural Fluid triglyceride levels based on a low-Fat Diet Management Strategy in patients with Chylothorax following pulmonary resection

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax is a postoperative complication in patients with lung cancer. Diet-control approaches have been the mainstay for managing this condition. However, a surgical intervention is needed for the patients if conservative treatment is ineffective. Because of the lack of accurate indicators to assess the prognosis of the postoperative complication at an early stage, the criteria of surgical treatment were not consistent.

METHODS

We reviewed 2942 patients who underwent pulmonary resection and lymph node dissection for primary lung cancer at our hospital between March 2021 and December 2022. The prognostic implications of clinical indicators were assessed in patients with postoperative chylothorax who were managed with a low-fat diet. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the predictive value of these indicators for patient prognosis.

RESULTS

Postoperative chylothorax occurred in 108 patients and 79 patients were treated with a low-fat diet management while 29 patients were managed with TPN. In contrast to drainage volume, the pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet exhibited enhanced predictive efficacy in predicting patient prognosis. When the pleural fluid triglyceride level of 1.33 mmol/L was used as the diagnostic threshold for prognosis, the sensitivity and specificity reached 100% and 80.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The pleural effusion triglyceride level after 2 days of low-fat diet can serve as a valuable prognostic indicator in patients undergoing lung surgery and experiencing chylothorax. This predictive approach will help thoracic surgeons to identify patients with poor prognosis in a timely manner and make decision to perform necessary surgical interventions.

The essential role of thoracic duct embolization in management of traumatic iatrogenic chylothorax

This study aims to describe a case series of patients who underwent thoracic duct embolization (TDE) to treat traumatic iatrogenic chylothorax (TIC). Three patients were included: Case #1, a 49-year-old woman with follicular lymphoma developed a TIC following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to resect a solid right paravertebral mass and was treated with TDE using microcoils and N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue. Case #2, a 68-year-old man with cardiac amyloidosis developed a TIC following heart transplantation and was treated with TDE using microcoils and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. Case#3: A 6-year-old patient with congenital heart disease developed a TIC following a Fontan procedure and was treated with TDE using NBCA glue. All lesions were identified during lymphangiography and TDE was successfully performed in all cases. TDE is a safe and valuable technique that provides minimally invasive treatment for TCI.

Outcomes of Chylothorax Nonoperative Management After Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Chylothorax after thoracic surgery is a severe complication with high morbidity and mortality rate of 0.10 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06 - 0.02). There is no agreement on whether nonoperative treatment or early reoperation should be the initial intervention. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the conservative approach to treat chyle leakage after cardiothoracic surgeries.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in PubMed®, Embase, Cochrane Library Central, and LILACS (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde) databases; a manual search of references was also done. The inclusion criteria were patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery, patients who received any nonoperative treatment (e.g., total parenteral nutrition, low-fat diet, medium chain triglycerides), and studies that evaluated chylothorax resolution, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, infection, morbidity, and mortality.

CENTRAL MESSAGE

Nonoperative treatment for chylothorax after cardiothoracic procedures has significant hospital stay, morbidity, mortality, and reoperation rates.

RESULTS

Twenty-two articles were selected. Pulmonary complications, infections, and arrhythmia were the most common complications after surgical procedures. The incidence of chylothorax in cardiothoracic surgery was 1.8% (95% CI 1.7 - 2%). The mean time of maintenance of the chest tube was 16.08 days (95% CI 12.54 - 19.63), and the length of hospital stay was 23.74 days (95% CI 16.08 - 31.42) in patients with chylothorax receiving nonoperative treatment. Among patients that received conservative treatment, the morbidity event was 0.40 (95% CI 0.23 - 0.59), and reoperation rate was 0.37 (95% CI 0.27 - 0.49). Mortality rate was 0.10 (95% CI 0.06 - 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Nonoperative treatment for chylothorax after cardiothoracic procedures has significant hospital stay, morbidity, mortality, and reoperation rates.

The application of a medium-chain fatty diet and enteral nutrition in post-operative chylous leakage: analysis of 63 patients

Background

Post-operative chylous leakage (CL) is the pathologic leakage of chylomicron fluid after surgery. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate a uniform oral nutrition management strategy on the post-operative CL.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients who developed post-operative CL and received consultation from a clinical nutritionist in seven departments of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from May 2020 to April 2022. We designed the oral nutrition intervention program which mainly standardized the type and amount of foods contained in the medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet. The influencing factors of curative efficacy were analyzed. Finally, binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to observe the relationship between curative efficacy and potentially predictive variables, including post-operative albumin, post-operative hemoglobin, surgical procedure, and drainage volume at consultation.

Results

Sixty-three patients with post-operative CL were included in this analysis. Of this number, 58 patients were cured successfully without other treatments. Three patients had a significantly prolonged recovery period, and the remaining two cases were treated by reoperation therapy. The leakage volume at the initiation of enteral intervention had no statistically significant difference in seven surgical departments and surgical sites (left, right, median, and bilateral). The length of stay (LOS) of patients with CL after the intervention was not significantly increased in cardiac, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal, and urological surgeries. Patients with CL had longer LOS than those without CL in gynecology (P=0.044) and thyroid surgery departments (P=0.008). Each unit increase in post-operative hemoglobin would increase the probability of an effective outcome by 8%, which was statistically significant (P = 0.037).

Conclusion

In treating patients with post-operative CL, we recommend the MCT diet and EN as the first option, rather than fasting, parenteral nutrition (PN), or octreotide.

Invasive treatment of persistent postoperative chylothorax secondary to thoracic duct variation injury: Two case reports and literature review

RATIONALE

Postoperative chylothorax is a rare complication after pulmonary resection. Thoracic duct variations may play a key role in postoperative chylothorax occurrence and make treatment difficult. No studies in the literature have reported the successful treatment of chylothorax second to thoracic duct variation by lipiodol-based lymphangiography.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 63-year-old male and a 28-year-old female with primary lung adenocarcinoma were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic cancer resection, and suffered postoperative chylothorax. Conservative treatment was ineffective, including nil per os, persistent thoracic drainage, fatty food restriction, and somatostatin administration.

DIAGNOSIS

Postoperative chylothorax.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients received lipiodol-based lymphangiography under fluoroscopic guidance. Iatrogenic injuries were identified at thoracic duct variations, including an additional channel in case 1 and the lymphatic plexus instead of the thoracic duct in case 2.

OUTCOMES

Thoracic duct variations were identified by lipiodol-based lymphangiography, and postoperative chylothorax was successfully treated by lipiodol embolizing effect.

LESSONS

Thoracic duct variations should be considered after the failure of conservative treatment for postoperative chylothorax secondary to pulmonary resection. Lipiodol-based lymphangiography is valuable for identifying the thoracic duct variations and embolizing chylous leakage.

Management of Complications Following Lung Resection

Lung resections are associated with a variety of potential postoperative complications. Not surprisingly, pulmonary complications are most frequent after lung surgery. Cardiac and thromboembolic complications are also important. It is essential that surgeons anticipate the possibility of these complications and take preventative measures whenever possible. When complications do occur, prompt recognition and treatment is required to assure optimal patient outcomes.