Case Report

Year : 2020 | Volume : 3 | Issue : 1 | Page : 8-11

Management of delayed chyle leak after thyroid cancer surgery

Lalit Kumar Bansal, Stuti Gupta1 , Poras Chaudhary2, Manu Vats2

Department of Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, ABVIMS and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, 1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 2 Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, ABVIMS and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Lalit Kumar Bansal, Department of Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, ABVIMS and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.

E‐mail: dr.lkbansal@gmail.com

Abstract

Chyle leak from thoracic duct injury after head-and-neck surgery is a rare but serious complication that occurs in 0.5%–1.3% of thyroidectomies and 2%–8% of neck dissections. The variable anatomy and fragile composition of the thoracic duct render it prone to injury. The majority of chyle leak occurs with surgery of the left neck; however, up to 25% of chyle leak occur with right neck surgery. Early identification and appropriate management of chyle leak are imperative for optimal surgical outcome. In this case report, we explain a case of carcinoma thyroid for which total thyroidectomy with left lateral neck dissection was done. Postoperatively, there is continuous drainage of chyle from wound site which was managed by re-exploration and repair of injured thoracic duct.

Keywords: Chyle leak, neck dissection, thoracic duct injury, thyroidectomy

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article: Bansal LK, Gupta S, Chaudhary P, Vats M. Management of delayed chyle leak after thyroid cancer surgery. Int J Head Neck Pathol 2020;3:8-11.