title: Successful conservative treatment of chylothorax following oesophagectomy - a clinical algorithm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chylothorax is an infrequent but serious complication after thoracic surgery. Optimal management is still controversial. Surgical re-interventions are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 2-year period, 3 patients developed chylothorax after oesophagectomy. This was treated conservatively, following our departmental protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conservative management (total parenteral nutrition, bowel rest, pleural drainage and octreotide, followed by a low-fat diet) was successful in all 3 cases within a reasonable period of time (14 - 18 days). CONCLUSION; We recommend conservative measures as the first-line treatment for postoperative chylothorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University hospital Magdeburg, Germany. frankbenedix@gmx.de
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benedix
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scheidbach
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D015282:Octreotide