[Clinical features of postoperative chylothorax for lung cancer and esophageal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To define the clinical features of postoperative chylothorax for lung cancer (PCLC), and to compare them with those for esophageal cancer (PCEC).


METHODS
We retrospectively analysed clinical characteristics of 12 patients with chylothorax among 4 084 patients receiving resection of lung cancer, as well as 52 in 4 479 patients having resection of esophageal cancer since 1985 at our hospital.


RESULTS
The incidence of PCLC was 0.29% and that of PCEC was 1.16%. The percentage of diagnosis confirmed within 4 postoperative days was 33.3% for PCLC, and 76.9% for PCEC. The rate of typical chylous pleural effusion was 83.3% for PCLC, and 5.8% for PCEC. Symptoms and signs of PCLC were much milder than those of PCEC. The re-operation rate was 16.7% for PCLC, and 96.2% for PCEC. All patients were discharged uneventfully.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence, causes, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of PCLC is different from those of PCEC.
Zhao
Jun
J
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China.
Zhang
De-chao
DC
Wang
Liang-jun
LJ
Zhang
Ru-gang
RG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*