A case of postoperative chylothorax successfully treated with octreotide

Abstract

We report a case in which octreotide (analog of somatostatin) had a favorable effect on postoperative chylothorax of lung cancer. The patient was a 61-year-old male. He underwent a right upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection through a complete VATS procedure. The pleural fluid became milky soon after the patient resumed oral intake. As chylothorax occurred on postoperative day 1, he received total parenteral nutrition support with the cessation of food intake. Meanwhile, the administration of octreotide was started subcutaneously at 100 μg twice a day. Four days after the start of its administration, we increased the dose to 3 times daily. The drainage volume markedly decreased 4 days later, followed by treatment for pleurodesis. The chylothorax disappeared, and no side effects of octreotide were noted. Octreotide should be considered an option for postoperative chylothorax treatment.