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Lookup NU author(s): Jakub Chmelo, Dr Lorna Dunn, Anantha Madhavan, Shajahan Wahed, Arul Immanuel, Professor Michael Griffin, Professor Alexander PhillipsORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2020, The Author(s). Background: Chyle leak is an uncommon complication following esophagectomy, accounting for significant morbidity and mortality; however, the optimal treatment for the chylothorax is still controversial. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, management, and outcomes of chyle leaks within a specialist esophagogastric cancer center. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancers (adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) between 1997 and 2017 at the Northern Oesophagogastric Unit were included from a contemporaneously maintained database. Primary outcome was overall survival, while secondary outcomes were overall complications, anastomotic leaks, and pulmonary complications. Results: During the study period, 992 patients underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancers, and 5% (n = 50) of them developed chyle leaks. There was no significant difference in survival in patients who developed a chyle leak compared with those who did not (median: 40 vs. 45 months; p = 0.60). Patients developing chyle leaks had a significantly longer length of stay in critical care (median: 4 vs. 2 days; p = 0.002), but no difference in total length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Chyle leak remains a complication following esophagectomy, with limited understanding on its pathophysiology in postoperative recovery. However, these data indicate chyle leak does not have a long-term impact on patients and does not affect long-term survival.
Author(s): Milito P, Chmelo J, Dunn L, Kamarajah SK, Madhavan A, Wahed S, Immanuel A, Griffin SM, Phillips AW
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Annals of Surgical Oncology
Year: 2021
Volume: 28
Issue: 7
Pages: 3963-3972
Print publication date: 01/07/2021
Online publication date: 02/12/2020
Acceptance date: 31/10/2020
Date deposited: 01/06/2022
ISSN (print): 1068-9265
ISSN (electronic): 1534-4681
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-09399-1
DOI: 10.1245/s10434-020-09399-1
PubMed id: 33263829
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