Surgical repair of intractable chylous ascites following laparoscopic anterior resection

Chylous ascites is the accumulation of a milk-like peritoneal fluid rich in triglycerides and it is an unusual complication following surgical treatment of colorectal cancer. Conservative management is usually sufficientin patients with chylous ascites after surgery. However,we describe a patient with intractable chylous ascites after laparoscopic anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer who failed initial conservative treatment. This patient was successfully managed by surgery.

Chylous ascites secondary to hyperlipidemic pancreatitis with normal serum amylase and lipase

A 54-year old man with a family history of hyperlipidemia was admitted with a 12 h history of severe generalized abdominal pain associated with nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension. Examination of the abdomen revealed tenderness in the periumblical area with shifting dullness. Serum pancreatic amylase was 29 IU/L and lipase 44 IU/L, triglyceride 36.28 mmol/L. Ultrasound showed ascites. CT of the abdomen with contrast showed inflammatory changes surrounding the pancreas consistent with acute pancreatitis. Ultrasound (US) guided abdomen paracentesis yielded a milky fluid with high triglyceride content consistent with chylous ascites. The patient was kept fasting and intravenous fluid hydration was provided. Meperidine was administered for pain relief. On the following days the patient’s condition improved and he was gradually restarted on a low-fat diet, and fat lowering agent (gemfibrozil) was begun, 600 mg twice a day. On d 14, abdomen US was repeated and showed fluid free peritoneal cavity. The patient was discharged after 18 d of hospitalization with 600 mg gemfibrozil twice a day. At the time of discharge, the fasting triglyceride was 4.2 mmol/L. After four weeks the patient was seen in the clinic, he was well.

Acute chylous ascites mimicking acute appendicitis in a patient with pancreatitis

We report a case of acute chylous peritonitis mimicking acute appendicitis in a man with acute on chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatitis, both acute and chronic, causing the development of acute chylous ascites and peritonitis has rarely been reported in the English literature. This is the fourth published case of acute chylous ascites mimicking acute appendicitis in the literature.

Chylous ascites in colorectal surgery:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Chylous ascites is a rare complication in colorectal surgery with limited evidence.AIM To systematically review all available evidence to describe the incidence,clinical presentation,risk factors and management strategies.METHODS The systematic review was performed through PubMed,MEDLINE,EMBASE and Cochrane and cross-checked up to November 2020.The data collated included:Demographics,indications(benign vs malignant),site of disease,surgical approach,extent of lymphadenectomy,day to and method of diagnosis of chylous ascites and management strategies.RESULTS A total of 28 studies were included in the final analysis(426 cases).Patient age ranged from 31 to 89 years.All except one case were performed for malignancy.Of the 426 cases,195 were right-colonic,121 left-colonic,103 pelvic surgeries and 7 others.The majority were diagnosed during the same inpatient stay by recognition of typical drain appearance and increased volume.Three cases were diagnosed during outpatient visits with increased abdominal distention and subsequently underwent paracentesis.Most cases were managed successfully non-operatively(fasting with prolonged drainage,total parenteral nutrition,somatostatin analogues or a combination of these).Only three cases required surgical intervention after failing conservative management and subsequently resolved completely.Risk factors identified include:Right-colonic surgery/tumour location,extent of lymphadenectomy and number of lymph nodes harvested.CONCLUSION Chylous ascites after colorectal surgery is a relatively rare complication.Whilst the majority of cases resolved without surgical intervention,preventative measures should be undertaken such as meticulous dissection and clipping of lymphatics during lymphadenectomy to prevent morbidity.

Penicillium marneffei chylous ascites in acquired immune deficiency syndrome:A case report

Penicillium marneffei (P. marneffei ) infection usually occurs with skin, bone marrow, lung or hepatic involvement. However, no cases of P. marneffei infection with chylous ascites have been reported thus far. In this report, we describe the first case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) which has been complicated by a P. marneffei infection causing chylous ascites. We describe the details of the case, with an emphasis on treatment regimen. This patient was treated with amphotericin B for 3 mo, while receiving concomitant therapy with an efavirenz-containing antiretroviral regimen, but cultures in ascitic fluid were persistently positive for P. marneffei . The infection resolved after treatment with high-dose voriconazole (400 mg every 12 h) for 3 mo. P. marneffei should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chylous ascites in human immunodeficiency virus patients. High-dose voriconazole is an effective, well-tolerated and convenient option for the treatment of systemic infections with P. marneffei in AIDS patients on an efavirenz-containing antiretroviral regimen.

Chylous ascites after pancreatico-duodenectomy

BACKGROUND:Chylous ascites(CA) following pancreatico-duodenectomy(PD) is a rare complication secondary to disruption of the lymphatics during extended retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The majority of cases do not develop CA,possibly due to patency of the proximal thoracic duct and good collaterals. CA may be due to a consequence of occult obstruction of the proximal thoracic duct by malignant infiltration or tumor embolus. This study was to report the incidence of CA and its outcomes of management. METHODS:A retrospective search of our liver database was performed using the 'pancreatico-duodenectomy','chylous ascites' from January 2000 to December 2005. The medical records of CA patients and their management and outcome were reviewed. RESULTS:In 138 patients who had undergone PD in our centre for pancreatic malignancy,3 were identified with CA and managed by abdominal paracentesis. CA resolved in 2 patients with low fat medium chain triglyceride diet alone and 1 patient had total parenteral nutrition(TPN) for persistent CA. Resolution of CA occurred in these 3 patients at a median follow-up of 4 weeks(range 4-12 weeks). Histologically,resected specimen confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma in all the patients. Two patients developed loco-regional recurrences at a median follow up of 8 months(range 6-10 months). And the other was currently disease free at a 10-month follow up. CONCLUSIONS:CA as an uncommon postoperative complication requires frequent paracentesis,prolonged hospital stay,and delayed adjuvant chemotherapy. CA istreated with low fat medium chain triglyceride diet or occasionally TPN is required.

Chylous ascites after whole pelvis suspension:case report and literature review

We report a case of Chylous ascites after whole pelvis suspension and to discuss the possible reasons. An 85-year-old female patient with anterior vaginal prolapse Ⅳ (AVP Ⅳ), vaginal vault proplapse Ⅳ and posterior vaginal prolapse Ⅳ (PVP Ⅳ), developed Chylous ascites 2 weeks after she received whole pelvis suspension. The cause of chylous ascites in the present case was not associated with malignant tumor, hepatic cirrhosis, or inflammation. Therefore, surgical trauma may be considered the cause of disorder. X-ray lymphangioadenography should be performed to draw a final conclusion.

Novel management indications for conservative treatment of chylous ascites after gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Chylous ascites(CA) presents a challenge as a relatively common postoperative complication in gastric cancer(GC). Primary conservative therapy involved total parenteral nutrition, continuous low-pressure drainage, somatostatin, and a lowfat diet. Drainage tube(DT) clamping has been presented as a potential alternative conservative treatment for GC patients with CA.AIM To propose novel conservative treatment strategies for CA following GC surgery.METHODS The data of patients with CA after GC surgery performed at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between 2006 and 2021 were evaluated retrospectively.RESULTS 53 patients underwent surgery for GC and exhibited postoperative CA during the study period. Postoperative hospitalization and time of DT removal showed a significant positive association(R~2 = 0.979, P < 0.001). We further observed that delayed DT removal significantly extended the total and postoperative hospitalization, antibiotic usage duration, and hospitalization cost(postoperative hospitalization: 25.8 d vs 15.5 d, P < 0.001;total hospitalization: 33.2 d vs 24.7 d, P < 0.01;antibiotic usage duration: 10.8 d vs 6.2 d, P < 0.01;hospitalization cost: ￥9.2 × 104vs ￥6.5 × 104, P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that postoperative infection and antibiotic usage were independent factors for delayed DT removal.Furthermore, DT removal times were shorter in seven patients who underwent DT clamping(clamped DT vs normal group, 11.8 d vs 13.6 d, P = 0.047;clamped DT vs delayed group, 13.6 d vs 27.4 d, P < 0.001). In addition, our results indicated that removal of the DT may be possible after three consecutive days of drainage volumes less than 300 mL in GC patients with CA.CONCLUSION Infection and antibiotic usage were vital independent factors that influenced delayed DT removal in patients with CA. Appropriate standards for DT removal can significantly reduce the duration of hospitalization. Furthermore, DT clamping might be a recommended option for conservative treatment of postoperative CA.

Non chylous filarial ascites: A rare case report

Filariasis is a common health problem in tropical and subtropical regions including India. It commonly presents with lymphatic involvement in form of nonpitting pedal edema, chylous ascites, chyluria,hydrocele and lymphocele. Detection of microfilaria in ascitic fluid is an extremely uncommon finding. We present a case of non chylous ascites where microfilaria were detected in the ascitic fluid.

Impact of Chylous Ascites on Colon Cancer in Laparoscopic Surgery

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of chylous ascites. Methods: We identified the cases of 913 consecutive patients who underwenturgery for colorectal cancerat our University Hospital between January 2005and December2016. We divided the patients into thosewith and those without chylous ascites and compared the two groups by age, gender, body mass index, tumor location, T, N factor, stage, operation time, intra-operative bleeding, and duration of postoperative hospital stay. Results: Chylous ascites developed in 8 of the 913 patients (0.8%). Neither age, sex, tumor location, and body mass indexnor number of lymph nodeswereassociated with postoperative chylous ascites. Ascites occurred significantly less frequently in the early stage of colorectal cancer than in the late stage (p = 0.04). There was no significant difference between the groups in operative factors, including operation time and blood loss. Postoperative hospital stays were longer in patients with chylous ascites (20.5 days) than in those without (11 days) (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Late stage was one of the risk factors for chylous ascites in the present study. Other risks, such as tumor location and blood loss,will vary from institution to institution.

Nomogram for predicting chylous ascites after right colectomy

BACKGROUND Chylous ascites following right colectomy has a high incidence which is a critical challenge.At present,there are few studies on the factors affecting chylous ascites after right colectomy and especially after D3 Lymphadenectomy.A predictive model for chylous ascites has not yet been established.Therefore,we created the first nomogram to predict the incidence of chylous ascites after right hemicolectomy.AIM To analyze the risk factors for chylous ascites after right colectomy and establish a nomogram to predict the incidence of chylous ascites.METHODS We retrospectively collected patients who underwent right hemicolectomy between January 2012 and May 2021 and were pathologically diagnosed with cancer.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of chylous ascites and a nomogram was established.The predictive ability was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.RESULTS Operative time,the type of operation(standard or extended),the number of lymph nodes retrieved,and somatostatin administration were considered important risk factors.Multivariate logistic regression and nomograms can be used to accurately predict whether chylous ascites occurs.The area under the ROC curve of the model is 0.770.The C-statistic of this model is 0.770 which indicates that it has a relatively moderate ability to predict the risk of chylous ascites.CONCLUSION We found a novel set of risk factors,created a nomogram,and validated it.The nomogram had a relatively accurate forecasting ability for chylous ascites after right hemicolectomy and can be used as a reference for risk assessment of chylous ascites and whether to prevent it after surgery.

A rare case of pregnancy complicated by mesenteric mass:What does chylous ascites tell us?

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a rare benign nonmetastatic neoplasm that appears as a sporadic lesion or occurs in patients with familial polyposis,while chylous ascites associated with aggressive mesenteric fibromatosis during pregnancy has never been reported thus far.Here we present the case of a 28-year old pregnant woman,in whom an aggressive mesenteric fibromatosis with chylous ascites was detected,involving the jejunum,superior mesenteric artery(SMA)and superior mesenteric vein(SMV)and pancreas.One year after a successful surgical excision,the patient had no signs of recurrence.The authors report the case for its rarity and emphasize on combining clinicopathological,radiological and immunohistochemistry analysis for management of the disease.

Chylous ascites in laparoscopic renal surgery: Where do we stand?

Postoperative chylous ascites, which is caused by the disruption of lymphatic channels and persistent lymphatic leakage, was a rare complication in the urologic field before laparoscopic surgery was introduced. Now that laparoscopic urologic surgery, especially laparoscopic nephrectomy, is widely performed, chylous ascites as a complication of laparoscopic renal surgery has been reported more frequently. With these accumulated experiences and data comes knowledge about the proper diagnosis and management of chylous ascites, although there is still some debate regarding the correct protocol for diagnosis and management. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of the current literature regarding the etiology, incidence, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of chylous ascites after laparoscopic renal surgery, as well as strategies used to prevent it, and discuss current perspectives on overcoming this complication in the laparoscopic age.

Prevalence and risk factors of lymphatic dysfunction in cirrhosis patients with refractory ascites:An often unconsidered mechanism

BACKGROUND The lymphatic system is crucial in maintaining the body fluid homeostasis.A dysfunctional lymphatic system may contribute to the refractoriness of ascites and edema in cirrhosis patients.Therefore,assessment of lymphatic dysfunction in cirrhosis patients with refractory ascites(RA)can be crucial as it would call for using different strategies for fluid mobilization.AIM To assessing the magnitude,spectrum,and clinical associations of lymphatic dysfunction in liver cirrhosis patients with RA.METHODS This observational study included 155 consecutive cirrhosis patients with RA.The presence of clinical signs of lymphedema,such as peau d’orange appearance and positive Stemmer sign,intestinal lymphangiectasia(IL)on duodenal biopsy seen as dilated vessels in the lamina propria with strong D2-40 immunohistochemistry,and chylous ascites were used to diagnose the overt lymphatic dysfunctions.RESULTS A total of 69(44.5%)patients out of 155 had evidence of lymphatic dysfunction.Peripheral lymphedema,found in 52(33.5%)patients,was the most common manifestation,followed by IL in 42(27.0%)patients,and chylous ascites in 2(1.9%)patients.Compared to patients without lymphedema,those with lymphedema had higher mean age,median model for end-stage liver disease scores,mean body mass index,mean ascitic fluid triglyceride levels,and proportion of patients with hypoproteinemia(serum total protein<5 g/dL)and lymphocytopenia(<15%of total leukocyte count).Patients with IL also had a higher prevalence of lymphocytopenia and hypoproteinemia(28.6%vs.9.1%,P=0.004).Seven(13%)patients with lymphedema had lower limb cellulitis compared to none in those without it.On multivariate regression analysis,factors independently associated with lymphatic dysfunction included obesity[odds ratio(OR):4.2,95%confidence intervals(95%CI):1.1–15.2,P=0.027],lymphocytopenia[OR:6.2,95%CI:2.9–13.2,P<0.001],and hypoproteinemia[OR:3.7,95%CI:1.5–8.82,P=0.003].CONCLUSION Lymphatic dysfunction is common in cirrhosis patients with RA.Significant indicators of its presence include hypoproteinemia and lymphocytopenia,which are likely due to the loss of lymphatic fluid from the circulation.Future efforts to mobilize fluid in these patients should focus on methods to improve lymphatic drainage.

A case report of chylous ascites after cardiac surgery

Background:Chylous ascites(CA),an emulsion rich in triglycerides,is a rare type of ascites,especially after cardiac surgery.Also,there are few reports of the occurrence of CA after mitral valve replacement,aortic valve replacement,tricuspid valvuloplasty,and coronary artery bypass grafting.Case presentation:We report the case of a 53-year-old man who underwent surgery for a diagnosis of mitral incompetence,aortic incompetence,tricuspid incompetence,and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.Fifteen days after surgery,3000 mL of milky-yellow ascites appeared in the abdominal cavity,diagnosed as CA by laboratory examination.The ascites gradually disappeared after being drained,and the patients improved.The curative was objective,but the exact cause is not clear.Conclusion:Although CA is rare,it may occur during the surgical intervention in cardiac surgery.

Acute chylous peritonitis due to acute pancreatitis

We report a case of acute chylous ascites formation presenting as peritonitis(acute chylous peritonitis) in a patient suffering from acute pancreatitis due to hypertriglyceridemia and alcohol abuse.The development of chylous ascites is usually a chronic process mostly involving malignancy,trauma or surgery,and symptoms arise as a result of progressive abdominal distention.However,when accumulation of "chyle" occurs rapidly,the patient may present with signs of peritonitis.Preoperative diagnosis is difficult since the clinical picture usually suggests hollow organ perforation,appendicitis or visceral ischemia.Less than 100 cases of acute chylous peritonitis have been reported.Pancreatitis is a rare cause of chyloperitoneum and in almost all of the cases chylous ascites is discovered some days(or even weeks) after the onset of symptoms of pancreatitis.This is the second case in the literature where the patient presented with acute chylous peritonitis due to acute pancreatitis,and the presence of chyle within the abdominal cavity was discovered simultaneously with the establishment of the diagnosis of pancreatitis.The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy for suspected perforated duodenal ulcer,since,due to hypertriglyceridemia,serum amylase values appeared within the normal range.Moreover,abdominal computed tomography imaging was not diagnostic for pancreatitis.Following abdominal lavage and drainage,the patient was successfully treated with total parenteral nutrition and octreotide.

Successful management of chylous ascites with total parenteral nutrition,somatostatin,and fibrin glue

Chylous ascites, an uncommon disease usually caused by obstruction or rupture of the peritoneal or retroperitoneal lymphatic glands, is defined as the accumulation of chyle in the peritoneal cavity. It is a difficult management problem due to the serious mechanical, nutritional, and immunological consequences of the constant loss of protein and lymphocytes. Most investigators believe that the incidence of chylous ascites is increasing because of more aggressive thoracic and retroperitoneal surgery and also because of the prolonged survival of patients with cancer. Although the incidence of chylous ascites has increased in recent years, treatment remains unsatisfactory. The standard conservative treatments include paracentesis, a medium chain triglyceride （MCT） based diet, total parenteral nutrition （TPN）, and recently recommended somatostatin, are preferable in most cases, but usually need several weeks to cure chyloperitonum. Open or laparoscopic ligation of ruptured lymph ducts, a commonly used procedure for persistent chylous ascites, may fail in patients without visible chylous leak. Fibrin glue, a widely used approach to treat various kinds of fistulae, has recently been reported to seal chylous leak during operation. Here we present two cases of chylous ascites who were successfully treated with fibrin glue in different settings.

Chylous Ascites:A Review of Pathogenesis,Diagnosis and Treatment

Chylous ascites(CA)is a rare form of ascites that results from the leakage of lipid-rich lymph into the peritoneal cavity.This usually occurs due to trauma and rupture of the lymphatics or increased peritoneal lymphatic pressure secondary to obstruction.The underlying etiologies for CA have been classified as traumatic,congenital,infectious,neoplastic,postoperative,cirrhotic or cardiogenic.Since malignancy and cirrhosis account for about two-thirds of all the cases of CA in Western countries,in this article we have attempted to reclassify CA based on portal and non-portal etiologies.The diagnosis of CA is based on the distinct characteristic of the ascitic fluid which includes a milky appearance and a triglyceride level of>200 mg/dL.The management consists of identifying and treating the underlying disease process,dietary modification,and diuretics.Some studies have also supported the use of agents such as orlistat,somatostatin,octreotide and etilefrine.Paracentesis and surgical interventions in the form of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(commonly known as TIPS),peritoneal shunt,angiography with embolization of a leaking vessel,and laparotomy remain as treatment options for cases refractory to medical management.

Chylous ascites has a higher incidence after robotic surgery and is associated with poor recurrence-free survival after rectal cancer surgery

Background:Postoperative chylous ascites is an infrequent condition after colorectal surgery and is easily treatable.However,its effect on the long-term oncological prognosis is not well established.This study aimed to investigate the short-term and long-term impact of chylous ascites treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by rectal cancer surgery and to evaluate the incidence of chylous ascites after different surgical approaches.Methods:A total of 898 locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery between January 2010 and December 2018 were included.The clinicopathological data and outcomes of the patients with chylous ascites were compared with those of the patients without chylous ascites.The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival(RFS).To balance baseline confounders between groups,propensity score matching(PSM)was performed for each patient with a logistic regression model.Results:Chylous ascites was detected in 3.8%(34/898)of the patients.The incidence of chylous ascites was highest after robotic surgery(6.9%,6/86),followed by laparoscopic surgery(4.2%,26/618)and open surgery(1.0%,2/192,P=0.021).The patients with chylous ascites had a significantly higher number of lymph nodes harvested(15.6 vs.12.8,P=0.009)and a 3-day longer postoperative hospital stay(P=0.017).The 5-year RFS rate was 64.5%in the chylous ascites group,which was significantly lower than the rate in the no chylous ascites group(79.9%;P=0.007).The results remained unchanged after PSM was performed.The chylous ascites group showed a nonsignificant trend towards a higher peritoneal metastasis risk(5.9%vs.1.6%,P=0.120).Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis confirmed chylous ascites(hazard ratio=3.038,P<0.001)as an independent negative prognostic factor for RFS.Conclusions:Considering the higher incidence of chylous ascites after laparoscopic and robotic surgery and its adverse prognosis,we recommend sufficient coagulation of the lymphatic tissue near the vessel origins,especially during minimally invasive surgery.

婴幼儿乳糜腹手术治疗:附11例报道

目的总结并分享婴幼儿乳糜腹的手术经验。方法回顾性分析2013年9月—2022年7月收治的11例手术治疗的乳糜腹患儿的临床资料。男婴8例,女婴3例;就诊年龄1(0.033,2)个月;产前彩超发现4例,出生后出现腹胀、呕吐症状7例。于肠系膜根部发现漏孔5例,给予缝合结扎,其中传统剖腹探查3例,使用纳米炭术中定位2例;肠旋转不良4例,予行Ladd手术;术中探查未见明显漏孔2例,予腹腔引流。结果11例患儿经手术治疗后皆治愈。随访3~6个月,无复发病例。结论婴幼儿乳糜腹保守治疗疗效不佳者可予手术治疗。术中探查发现漏孔者,予结扎后预后好。术中使用纳米炭定位可缩短手术时间。先天性肠旋转不良也是婴幼儿乳糜腹常见的病因,应积极探查复位,术后恢复好。