ObjectivesTo compare the clinical efficacy of different surgical thoracic duct management on prevention of postoperative chylothorax and its impact on the outcome of the patients. MethodsWe searched the electronic databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2016), Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies and case-control studies related to the comparison of different surgical thoracic duct management during esophagectomy on prevention of postoperative chylothorax from inception to May 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then RevMan 5.2 software was used for meta-analysis. ResultsTwenty-three trials were included, involving four RCTs, four cohort studies and 15 case-control studies. The results of meta-analysis indicated:(1) Prophylactic thoracic duct ligation group had lower incidence of postoperative chylothorax compared with non thoracoic duct ligation group (RCT:OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.47, P=0.000 02; Co/CC:OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.28, P<0.000 01); (2) There were no significant differences between the two groups in the respect of mortality, morbidity and the 2-year, 3-year, 5-year survival rates (all P values >0.05); (3) Prophylactic thoracic duct ligation could reduce the reoperation rate of chylothorax complicating esophageal cancer patients (RCT:OR=0.17, 95%CI 0.10 to 0.28, P<0.000 01; Co/CC:OR=0.18, 95%CI to 0.11 to 0.32, P<0.000 01), and increase the cure rate of expectant treatment on them (OR=0.25, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.56, P=0.000 8); (4) En bloc thoracic duct ligation group had a lower incidence of postoperative chylothorax compared with single thoracic duct ligation group (OR=3.67, 95%CI 1.43 to 9.43, P=0.007). ConclusionProphylactic thoracic duct ligation during esophagectomy could effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative chylothorax and is good for reducing the reoperation rate of chylothorax complicating esophageal cancer patients. En bloc thoracic duct ligation has a better efficacy on prevention of postoperative chylothorax compared with single thoracic duct ligation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and effectiveness of near-infrared fluorescence imaging of the thoracic duct (NFITD) using indocyanine green (ICG) during inflatable video-assisted mediastinoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy (IVMTE) for esophageal cancer. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with esophageal cancer who underwent IVMTE at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, from January 2024 to October 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they underwent NFITD: an ICG NFITD group (ITD group) and a non-ICG NFITD group (NITD group). Propensity score matching was used to balance confounding factors, and perioperative data and short-term follow-up results (within 6 months) of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 66 patients were included, of which 51 were males and 15 were females, with an average age of (70.9±7.2) years. In the comparison of general information between the two groups, the proportion of patients in the ITD group with preoperative chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was higher than that in the NITD group (P=0.044), and the proportion of patients with preoperative bronchiectasis was lower than that in the NITD group (P=0.035). After propensity score matching at a 1:1 ratio, a total of 15 pairs of patients were successfully matched. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, complications, maximum tumor diameter, pT stage, pN stage, and pTNM stage (P>0.05). The 6-month postoperative follow-up results showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of anastomotic stricture, hoarseness, gastric paralysis, anastomotic leakage, and postoperative adjuvant treatment (P>0.05). ConclusionThe application of NFITD in IVMTE is safe and effective, with a thoracic duct visualization rate of 100.0%. Compared with NITD, ITD prolonged the operation time but increased the number and stations of lymph node dissection without increasing perioperative and short-term postoperative complications (within 6 months), making it worthy of further clinical promotion.
ObjectiveTo review and analyze the treatment of chylothorax after video-assisted thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery and to discuss the best clinical treatment methods and effects.MethodsA total of 400 patients diagnosed with chylothorax at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2012 to January 2020 were continuously collected. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 37 patients were finally included. There were 20 males and 17 females with an average age of 55.55±10.49 years. Chylothorax was diagnosed primarily by triglyceride levels (above 110 mg/dL) or the Sudan triple stain test. Treatment included surgical and non-surgical treatment. The overall incidence, high risk factors and treatment methods of chylothorax after radical thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer were analyzed. According to the treatment methods, the patients were divided into a surgical treatment group and a non-surgical treatment group. The average daily drainage volume and average hospital stay of the patients between the two groups were analyzed.ResultsIncluded patients accounted for 0.3% (37/12 515) of lung cancer thoracoscopic surgery in our hospital during the same period. The incidence of postoperative chylothorax in patients with right lung surgery (0.2%, 29/12 515) was higher than that of patients with left lung surgery (0.1%, 8/12 515). Of 37 patients with chylothorax after lung cancer surgery, 32 patients were in the non-surgical treatment group (86.5%, 32/37), and the rate was higher compared with the surgical treatment group (13.5%, 5/37, P=0.000). The average daily drainage in the surgical treatment group was 777 mL more than that in the non-surgical treatment group (95%CI 588.58 to 965.55, P<0.001). The total drainage volume of the surgical treatment group was more than that of the non-surgical treatment group (8 609.2±4 680.3 mL vs. 4 911.2±3 925.5 mL, P=0.055). The postoperative hospital stay and total hospital stay in the surgical treatment group were shorter than those in the non-surgical treatment group (P=0.162, P=0.118). The tube indwelling time (8.2±2.7 d) was shorter than that of the non-surgical treatment group (12.3±6.8 d, P=0.204).ConclusionThe treatment of chylothorax after radical resection of VATS lung cancer is still mainly non-surgical treatment. Surgical treatment should be initiated as early as possible when the drainage volume is too large 72 hours after chylothorax surgery after radical resection of VATS lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and management of postoperative chylothorax after congenital cardiac surgery in infants and children. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 79 postoperative patients with chylothorax after congenital cardiac surgery in Guangdong General Hospital between January 2006 and December 2013.There were 54 males and 25 females at age ranged 8 days to 14 years. ResultsThe prevalence of postoperative chylothorax was 0.6% (79/12 067). A total of 75 (94.9%) patients were cured. And 71 patients (89.9%) were cured by conservative treatment. While 4(5.1%) patients received operative treatment, including 3 patients undergoing ligation of thoracic duct, 1 patient undergoing lymphatic ablation. There were 4 (5.1%) patients failed to treat, including 1(1.3%) abandoned, 3 (mortality of 3.8%) deaths in hospital for low cardiac output syndrome, cardiac arrest and severe anastomotic stenosis after transposition of conducting arteries(TGA), tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC) operation respectively. Hospitalization time ranged 10 to 108 (39.3±19.4) d. There was no recurrence of chylothorax within 6 months to 8 years of following-up. ConclusionThe key to prevention of chylothorax is to improve the surgical technology. Conservative management of chylothorax will be successful in most cases, but surgical treatment ought to be considered if the conservative management is unsuccessful.
ObjectiveTo compare the postoperative chylothorax outcomes of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), analyze the risk factors for postoperative chylothorax after minimally invasive radical lung cancer resection and explore possible prevention and control measures. MethodsBetween June 2012 and September 2020, 1083 patients underwent minimally invasive pulmonary lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection in our hospital, including 578 males and 505 females with an average age of 60.6±9.4 years. Patients were divided into two groups according to the operation methods: a RATS group (499 patients) and a VATS group (584 patients). After propensity score matching, 434 patients were included in each group (868 patients in total). Chylothorax and other perioperative indicators were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for postoperative chylothorax. ResultsOverall, 24 patients were diagnosed with chylothorax after surgery. Compared with the VATS group, the rate of chylothorax was higher (3.9% vs. 1.6%, P=0.038), the groups and numbers of dissected lymph nodes were more (both P<0.001), and the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less (P<0.001) in the RATS group. There was no statistical difference in the postoperative hospital stay (P=0.256) or chest tube drainage time (P=0.504) between the two groups. Univariate analysis showed that gender (P=0.021), operation approach (P=0.045), smoking (P=0.001) and the groups of dissected lymph nodes (P<0.001) were significantly associated with the development of chylothorax. Multivariate analysis showed that smoking [OR=4.344, 95%CI (1.149, 16.417), P=0.030] and the groups of dissected lymph nodes [OR=1.680, 95%CI (1.221, 2.311), P=0.001] were the independent risk factors for postoperative chylothorax. ConclusionCompared with the VATS, the rate of chylothorax after RATS is higher with more dissected lymph nodes and less blood loss. The incidence of chylothorax after minimally invasive radical lung cancer resection is higher in the patients with increased dissected lymph node groups and smoking history.