The impact of lymphangiograpy on chyle leakage treatment duration after pancreatic surgery

PurposeChyle leakage (CL) is a common complication in pancreatic surgery. Lymphangiography is a therapeutic option for CL in cases of conservative treatment failure. This study investigated the effect of lymphangiography on the healing time of CL.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 283 patients who underwent pancreatic resection between January 2016 and June 2022. The risk factors for CL and the treatment period were evaluated according to whether or not lymphangiography was performed.ResultsOf the 29 patients (10.2%) that had CL, lymphangiography was performed in 6. Malignant disease, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and drain fluid volume on postoperative day 2 were identified as independent risk factors for CL. Lymphangiography was associated with the cumulative healing rate of CL, and patients who underwent lymphangiography had a significantly shorter treatment period. No lymphangiography-related adverse events were observed.ConclusionLymphangiography is a feasible and safe treatment option for CL. The CL treatment period after pancreatic surgery was significantly shorter in patients who underwent lymphangiography than in those who did not. Our results suggest that lymphangiography may contribute to early improvement of persistent CL.