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Management of chylous fistula after neck dissection using negative‐pressure wound therapy: A preliminary report
Author(s) -
Kadota Hideki,
Kakiuchi Yasunori,
Yoshida Takamasa
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.23216
Subject(s) - medicine , negative pressure wound therapy , surgery , fistula , neck dissection , chyle , thoracic duct , complication , carcinoma , lymphatic system , alternative medicine , pathology , immunology
Chylous fistula is a distressing complication resulting from thoracic duct injury during neck dissections. We have successfully managed chylous fistula using negative‐pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in a case where all conservative treatments failed. A 60‐year‐old man with tongue cancer underwent subtotal glossectomy and bilateral neck dissections. On postoperative day 4, a chylous fistula with large drainage developed in the right neck. Conservative treatments were not effective, therefore, NPWT was started from postoperative day 9. The drainage volume then began to decrease, and the chylous fistula was closed 6 days after starting NPWT. In our case, the effects of wound shrinkage and fluid removal by NPWT were considered to contribute to early closure. Although preliminary, NPWT can be an important treatment choice for the management of a chylous fistula after neck dissections.