Clinical Study on Chylous Acites following Hepato-Pancreatic Surgery

Shinji Kuroda, Hideki Aoki, Shigehiro Shiozaki, Masao Harano, Hiroshi Sasaki, Tadashi Onoda, Satoshi Ohno, Kenji Higaki, Motoki Ninomiya and Norihisa Takakura

Department of Surgery, Hiroshima City Hospital

Postoperative chylous ascites is believed to be a rare complication that may result in serious nutritional and immunological complications due to loss of proteins and lymphocytes. From April 2001 to March 2004, we analyzed cases of chylous ascites following hepato-pancreatic surgery. The complication rate in chylous ascites was 3.4% (7 of 204 cases), then it was not thought to be a rare complication. Regression analysis showd a significant association between the number of days in the presence of chylous ascites and serum albumin, suggesting that chylous ascites must be reduced to improve nutritional condition. Octreotide was effective in the treatment of chylous ascites and a positive outcome was observed within 3 days in all 6 cases of octreotide therapy. For improvement of nutritional condition, early aggressive octreotide use is vital to positive prognosis.

Key words
chylous ascites, octreotide, postoperative complication

Reprint requests
Shinji Kuroda Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Iwakuni Clinical Center
2-5-1 Kuroiso-cho, Iwakuni, 740-8510 JAPAN

Accepted
November 30, 2005

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