1999 Volume 32 Issue 5 Pages 1203-1207
We report a case of chylothorax following resection of esophageal carcinoma which was successfully treated with pleurodesis. A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of middle intrathoracic esophageal carcinoma. He underwent right thoracolaparotomy, esophagectomy, lymph node dissection, pylo-roplasty and intrathoracic anastomosis. On and after the 1st postoperative day, more than 1, 400-2, 000 ml.day of drainage continued through a chest tube. On the 10th day, the effusion became milky after oralinges-tion of ice-cream. Lymphangiography showed an interruption of the medium flow at the level of Th10. So, we made a diagnosis of chylothorax. Conservative treatment with total parenteral nutrition and supplement of al-bumin did not decrease the volume of drainage. Therefore, pleurodesis with intrapleural infusion of OK-432 10KE and minocyclin 200mg was carried ous for 3 days beginning on the 13th postoperative day. The treat-ment resulsed in a marked decrease in the drainage, and the chest tube was removed on the 18th day. The pleural effusion was almost resolved by the 55th day, and no symptoms such as dyspnea and chest pain were observed. We reviewed four cases of pleurodesis for chylothorax after resection of esophageal carcinoma. All the cases were treated successfully
