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The Community Management of Chylous Fistula Using a Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitor (Orlistat)
Author(s) -
Belloso Antonio,
Saravanan Kasirajan,
de Carpentier John
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1097/01.mlg.0000236846.45777.39
Subject(s) - chyle , medicine , orlistat , lipase , intensive care medicine , general surgery , surgery , complication , weight loss , obesity , chemistry , enzyme , biochemistry
We describe two innovative ideas in the treatment of iatrogenic chyle leak. The first is the early use of a pancreatic lipase inhibitor (Orlistat) to reduce fat absorption and chyle production, with consequent faster fistula healing. The second is the treatment of these patients at home in the community by district nurses backed by the hospital staff. This domiciliary approach has a positive psychological effect on the patient, permits the patient to take responsibility for their treatment, and reduces hospital length of stay minimising patient exposure to nosocomial infections.