International Journal of Neurology and Brain DisordersInternational Journal of Neurology and Brain DisordersInternational Journal of Neurology and Brain DisordersInternational Journal of Neurology and Brain Disorders2377-1348Ommega Online PublishersNew Jersey, USA98210.15436/2377-1348.16.982Research ArticleManagement of a High-Flow Chylothorax Following L1 Thoracotomic Corpectomy: Case ReportManagement of a High-Flow Chylothorax Following L1 Thoracotomic Corpectomy: Case ReportD'AndreaGiancarlo 1S Andrea Hospital Department of Neuroscience Mental Health and Sensory Organs ndash Division of Neurosurgery University of Rome ldquo La Sapienza rdquo Rome Italy 2S Andrea Hospital University of Rome ldquo La Sapienza rdquo Department of Thoracic Surgery Rome Italy Editor* E-mail: gdandrea2002@yahoo.it
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
20161909201633IJNBD-16-CR-98223062016140920162016Creative Commons Attribution LicenseThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. nbsp emsp emsp The thoracic duct and its tributaries transport the lymph into the venous system and can be damaged during anterior spine surgery because their localization in the thoracic paravertebral soft tissue The Authors report a case of refractory and high-flow chylothorax complicating the postoperative course of a L1 corpectomy performed through a thoracotomic approach An unexpectedly left side located thoracic duct at the thoracolumbar junction or a big tributary was probably damaged during surgery Conservative treatment was first tried however the chyle rsquo s leak persisted and further increased despite all medical and nutritional adopted measures low-fat oral diet followed by total parenteral nutrition Hence surgical repair was indicated and performed with excellent results The patient improved immediately chest tubes were removed on the fifth postoperative day and one year after surgery there are no signs of pleural effusion 10