title: Prophylactic thoracic duct mass ligation prevents chylothorax after transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chylothorax after transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening postoperative complication. It has been reported that preventive thoracic duct ligation can reduce the incidence of postoperative chylothorax after esophagectomy for cancer. In this prospective series, we evaluated the results of preventive intraoperative thoracic duct mass ligation in patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2001 to 2006, 323 patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer and duct ligation during the operation was routinely performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No intraoperative or postoperative complications directly related to the procedure were recorded. No postoperative chylothorax was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this series, the technique of intraoperative thoracic duct mass ligation proved to be safe and effectively prevented postoperative chylothorax in patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cagol
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruol
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castoro
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alfieri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michieletto
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ancona
mesh_terms: D002299:Cardia / Q000473:pathology; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome