Chylous ascites after oncological abdominal surgery: incidence and treatment

Aims: Chylous ascites can be a problem after oncological abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to report the incidence and the management of th e problem. Methods: A retrospective study over a 2-year period of all oncological pati ents undergoing abdominal surgical procedures was carried out. Patients wit h resections in the upper abdomen and retroperitoneum were studied in more detail. Results: Twelve (7.4%) of 163 patients with complex surgical procedures dev eloped a chyloperitoneum. Chylous ascites stopped in time with conservative management in nine patients. Three patients had a peritoneovenous shunt in serted with success. No relaparotomies to ligate leaking intestinal lymph v essels were necessary. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.