Troubleshooting for chyle leak/lymphorrhea

Abstract

Chyle leak/lymphorrhea is a complication that can have serious consequences due to delayed wound healing and wound infection, and requires learning how to avoid it. In this educational panel discussion, I talked about necessary surgical techniques and troubleshooting.
Injury must be prevented beforehand, and it is necessary to know the anatomy of the lymphatic system and thoracic duct. The two-bite method, a preventive surgical technique to prevent thoracic duct injury, was also described.
As a surgical treatment for the onset of chyle leak, a method of ligating the thoracic duct of the upper mediastinum by operating from the neck was described. This is a method to identify the thoracic duct using the inside of the common carotid artery, thoracic entrance and posterior esophagus as a guide.