title: Transabdominal mass ligation of the thoracic duct for the prevention of chylothorax following en bloc oesophagectomy.
abstract: The occurrence of a postoperative chylothorax after en bloc oesophagectomy for cancer is a severe and potentially life-threatening complication. In this study, we describe the technique of transabdominal mass ligation of the thoracic duct as an elective, simple and safe method for the prevention of postoperative chylothorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoeppner
authors.forename: Ulrich Theodor
authors.initials: UT
authors.lastname: Hopt
mesh_terms: D002916:Chylothorax / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods*; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Chylothorax; Oesophageal cancer; Oesophagectomy