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THE INCIDENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF CHYLOUS FISTULAE
Author(s) -
Havas ThomasE.,
Gullane PatrickJ.,
Kassel RobertN.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1987.tb01279.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chyle , lymph , surgery , conservative management , fistula , general surgery , complication , psychiatry
Two hundred neck dissections performed at toronto general hospital over a 3 year period are reviewed. There were six intra‐operative lymph leaks and five postoperative chylous fistulae. The postoperative chylous fistulae are analysed in detail and the approach to conservative management of lymph leaks is discussed. Two cases required re‐exploration of the neck; difficulty in identifying the site of leakage and of sealing lymph channels is discussed. Also reported is the successful use of topical tetracycline powder in two cases and a review of the various treatment modalities advocated in the literature.