Chylous leakage from a remaining duplicated left-sided thoracic duct after esophagectomy successfully treated by ligation of the left-sided thoracic duct with left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with the patient in the prone position

Transhiatal bilateral thoracic duct ligation for duplicated thoracic duct injury after esophagectomy: a case report

Background

The treatment of duplicated thoracic ducts (TDs) injury after esophagectomy generally requires a bilateral transthoracic approach. We present the cases of two patients with postoperative chylothorax who underwent transhiatal bilateral TD ligation for duplicated TDs.

Case presentation

Two patients diagnosed with chylothorax after esophagectomy performed for thoracic esophageal cancer underwent transhiatal TD ligation. Although supradiaphragmatic mass ligation was performed on the fat tissue of the right side of the aorta containing the TD, chyle leakage persisted. To tackle this, the fat tissue of the left side of the aorta was ligated, after which the chyle leakage stopped.

Conclusion

Compared to the conventional transthoracic approach, the transhiatal approach enables the ligation of both left- and right-sided TD in a single surgical operation, without the need to change the patient’s posture. This approach may be appropriate for the treatment of chylothorax after esophagectomy, considering the possibility of duplicated TDs.

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.

Postoperative chylothorax with a duplicated left-sided thoracic duct: a case report and review of the literature

Postoperative chylothorax is a potentially lethal complication after esophagectomy. A 53-year-old woman underwent subtotal esophagectomy. The thoracic duct was resected due to swollen lymph nodes. Postoperative chylothorax was diagnosed but conservative treatment was ineffective. Lipiodol lymphangiography revealed leakage from a duplicated left-sided thoracic duct. Left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic ligation of the left-sided thoracic duct was performed. Because anatomical variations in the thoracic duct contribute to refractory chylothorax, lymphangiography is useful in detecting the position of thoracic duct injury as well as any duct anomalies. Based on lymphangiography, left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery could be considered in case of left-sided thoracic duct injury.

Simultaneous resections of left lung cancer and esophageal schwannoma using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A case report

Esophageal schwannomas are extremely rare esophageal submucosal tumors. Herein, we report a case of simultaneous resection of left lung cancer and an esophageal schwannoma with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. An asymptomatic 74-year-old woman received a diagnosis of an esophageal submucosal tumor during the preoperative assessment of a left lung cancer. The esophageal submucosal tumor arose in the left wall of the lower esophagus, and the patient was diagnosed as having a schwannoma by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. She underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the simultaneous removal of both tumors. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Thoracoscopic surgery is less invasive than thoracotomy, and this allowed the patient to undergo simultaneous operations for two tumors.

Prone position surgery for a subcarinal bronchogenic cyst

Background

Prone position surgery has become widespread for esophageal cancer instead of the traditional lateral decubitus approach. Carbon dioxide insufflation and the gravity effect provide a better operative field without parenchymal retraction. We herein report a case of a subcarinal bronchogenic cyst, which was successfully removed by the prone position surgery.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old man presented with a subcarinal mass and was planned to undergo a surgical resection in the prone position. Although he required bilateral ventilation due to hypoxemia, the excellent operative field was maintained and we completed the thoracoscopic surgery without any additional parenchymal retractions.

Conclusions

Thoracoscopic surgery in the prone position is a feasible option for subcarinal tumors with an excellent operative view and would facilitate a solo surgery without the need for a skilled assistant.