title: Acute pancreatitis after thoracic duct ligation for iatrogenic chylothorax. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To report the association between thoracic duct ligation and acute pancreatitis. The association between sudden stop of lymphatic flow and pancreatitis has been established in experimental models.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 57-year-old woman operated for thymoma presented a iatrogenic chylothorax. After thoracic duct ligation, she presented an acute pancreatitis which resolved after conservative treatment. The chylothorax disappeared within 4 days of thoracic duct ligation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of acute pancreatitis following thoracic duct ligation. The pancreas and digestive tract should be assessed in symptomatic patients after thoracic duct ligation.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland. benoit.bedat@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bédat
authors.affiliation: Thoracic and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cosimo Riccardo
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.affiliation: Thoracic and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Samira Mercedes
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sadowski
authors.affiliation: Thoracic and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Triponez
authors.affiliation: Thoracic and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karenovics
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Case report; Iatrogenic chylothorax; Thoracic duct ligation; Thoracic surgery; Thymoma