A rare complication in breast cancer surgery: chylous fistula and its treatment.
Chylous fistula is a complication related to thoracic duct injury, appearing in upper abdominal, thoracic and neck surgery. Occurrence of chylous fistula is very rare after modified radical mastectomy. We encountered a chylous fistula case after breast cancer surgery and successfully treated it conservatively. It is important that all surgeons dealing with breast surgery should be aware that, altough rarely, a chylous fistula can develop after axillary dissection. Experience related to the occurrence of this complication and its management when it occurs is quite restricted.
Department of General Surgery, Cukurova University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey. gsakman@cu.edu.tr
G
G
Sakman
C K
CK
Parsak
O
O
Demircan
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002913:Chyle; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000293:injuries*