SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF POSTRETROPERITONEAL LYMPH-NODE DISSECTION IN MASSIVE CHYLOUS ASCITES

A rare complication of retroperitoneal surgery is damage to lymphatic vessels, leak of chyle and the development of chylous ascites. This co mplication can be life threatening and has a relatively high mortality rate. We describe a 38-year-old patient with a massive chylous ascite s after extensive retroperitoneal lymph node dissection of metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumor. The patient was treated su rgically and with fat-free diet, medium chain triglycerides and diuret ics resulting in complete resolution of the ascites.