Video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of chylothorax after thoracic esophagectomy
LV Jun-jie
WU Qingquan
GU Biao
XU Keping
Abstract：Objective To evaluate the effect of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)in the treatment of chylothorax after thoracic esophagectomy. Method From Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2013,16 cases of chylothorax af-ter thoracic esophagectomy were treated by thoracic duct ligation under VATS through the right thorax approach. Results All the patients were operated by thoracic duct ligation under VATS. The duration of operation time ranged from 40 to 90 minutes,with average operating time 65 minutes. The postoperative drainage time ranged from 4 to 9 days,with mean drainage time 5. 5 days. No serious complications and recurrences occurred during postoperative follow-up 6 months later. Conclusion VATS is a safe and effective method for the treatment of postoperative chylothorax. Concurrent chylothorax after surgery should apply VATS as operative intervention as soon as possible,which can help patients recover at an early stage and reduce hospital stay.
Keywords：esophagectomychylothoraxvideo-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS )postoperative complications
Publication Date：2014-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：2( 277-278 )