title: Percutaneous treatment of high-output chylothorax with embolization or needle disruption technique.
abstract: Surgical ligation of the thoracic duct is associated with a high degree of morbidity; therefore, a minimally invasive approach is desirable. Herein, eight percutaneously treated patients are described. In four patients, the thoracic duct was embolized with use of coils and glue. In the other four patients, lymphatic ducts were disrupted by multiple needle punctures. The median chest tube drainage substantially decreased in both patient groups from more than 1,300 mL the day before the procedure to less than 300 mL 2 days after the procedure. The median times to chest tube removal were 7 days in the embolization group and 3.5 days in the needle disruption group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. cbinkert@partners.org
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Binkert
authors.forename: E Kent
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sugarbaker
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Baum
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015505:Chest Tubes; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D020878:Device Removal; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008220:Lymphography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009339:Needles; D011677:Punctures; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives