Intractable chylous leak after radical esophagectomy treated with radiotherapy

Abstract Postoperative chylous leak after esophagectomy is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication that results in hypovolemia, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, and immunologic deficiency. However, the management of postoperative chylous leak remains controversial. Following a diagnosis of esophageal cancer, a 64-year-old man was treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy, laparoscopic gastric tube formation, prophylactically thoracic duct ligation, and reconstruction with esophagogastrostomy at the neck level. Massive postoperative drainage from the thorax and abdomen did not initially meet the diagnostic criteria for chylothorax, which was ultimately diagnosed 3 weeks after the operation. Despite various treatments including total parenteral nutrition, octreotide and midodrine, reoperation (thoracic duct ligation and mechanical pleurodesis), and thoracic duct embolization, the chylous leak persisted. Finally, low-dose radiation therapy was administered with a daily dose of 2 Gy and completed at a total dose of 14 Gy. After this, the amount of pleural effusion gradually decreased over 2 weeks, and the last drainage tube was removed. The patient was alive and well at 60 months postoperatively. Herein, we describe a patient with intractable chylous leak after esophagectomy, which persisted despite conservative treatment, thoracic duct ligation, and embolization, but was finally successfully treated with radiotherapy.