[Effect of thoracic duct ligation during transthoracic esophagectomy on the prevention of post-operative chylothorax in different tumor locations].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of thoracic duct ligation during transthoracic esophagectomy on preventing post-operative chylothorax in different tumor locations.


METHODS
Between March 2003 and June 2007, 243 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma underwent esophageal resection in our hospital. All the cases were divided into five groups according to tumor localization, including cervical, upper middle, middle, lower middle and lower sections. Each was then subdivided into 2 groups: with and without intraoperative thoracic duct ligation. Statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the relevance between ligation and non-ligation of the thoracic duct during esophagectomy and the incidence of post-operative chylothorax.


RESULTS
A total of 8 cases of post-operative chylothorax was recorded and the incidence was 3.3%. Incidence with respect to tumor location was as follows: cervical section: ligation subgroup 3 cases and non-ligation subgroup 5 cases; upper middle section: no one for both ligation and non-ligation subgroups; middle section: ligation subgroup 0/26 and non-ligation subgroup 1/28 (3.6%); lower middle section: ligation subgroup 1/39 (2.6%) and non-ligation subgroup 1/35 (2.9%); lower section: ligation subgroup 1/37 (2.7%) and non-ligation subgroup 2/44 (4.5%). Logistic regression analysis revealed no significant difference between ligation and non-ligation subgroup in the prevention of post-operative chylothorax (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracic duct ligation as preventive measure can not decrease the incidence of chylothorax secondary to esophagectomy.
Lu
Jian-jun
JJ
Department of Chest Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yet-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Hou
Bei-ping
BP
Yao
Da
D
Zhang
Wei
W
Qin
Cun-wei
CW
Ma
Jun
J
Luo
Hong-he
HH
Zhong
Fo-tian
FT
D000368:Aged; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000601:surgery