Successful treatment of refractory hepatic lymphorrhea after gastrectomy for early gastric cancer, using surgical ligation and subsequent OK-432 (Picibanil) sclerotherapy

Abstract

Postoperative hepatic lymphorrhea is a very rare complication after abdominal surgery. Hepatic lymphorrhea, not containing chyle, involves an internal lymph fistula between the lymphatic channels toward the cisterna chyli and the peritoneal cavity. Over the past 20 years, 17 cases have been reported in Japan. Here, we report a further case, of a patient with successfully treated intractable hepatic lymphorrhea following gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. We review 18 cases, including the present case, with respect to the management of postoperative lymphorrhea refractory to conventional medical treatment.