Peritoneoatrial shunting for intractable chylous ascites complicating thoracic duct ligation.

Abstract

Thoracic duct ligation for chylothorax is considered a safe and efficient procedure. However, we observed two cases that were complicated by intractable chylous ascites. Refractory chylous ascites are usually cured by surgical peritoneovenous shunting, but in both patients successful treatment required peritoneoatrial shunting. Actually, a peritoneovenous shunt was impossible because of extensive venous thrombosis in jugular and superior vena cava in one patient and failed because of constrictive pericarditis requiring pericardectomy in the other, both underlying diseases also accounting for the thoracic duct ligation complications.

• Authors: Françoise Le Pimpec-Barthes, Minh Pham, Jérome Jouan, Alain Bel, Jean-Noël Fabiani, Marc Riquet
• Journal: The Annals of thoracic surgery (Ann Thorac Surg) Vol. 87 Issue 5 Pg. 1601-3 (May 2009) ISSN: 1552-6259 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 19379920 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Chylothorax (complications, surgery)
• Chylous Ascites (surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pericarditis (therapy)
• Peritoneovenous Shunt (methods)
• Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (complications, surgery)
• Thoracic Duct (surgery)
• Treatment Outcome