A review of the postoperative lymphatic leakage

// Shulan Lv 1, * , Qing Wang 1, * , Wanqiu Zhao 2, * , Lu Han 1 , Qi Wang 1 , Nasra Batchu 1 , Qurat Ulain 1 , Junkai Zou 1 , Chao Sun 1 , Jiang Du 1 , Qing Song 1, 3, 4 and Qiling Li 1, 4 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China 2 Northwest Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China 3 Cardiovascular Research Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA 4 Center of Big Data and Bioinformatics, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China * Co first authors Correspondence to: Qiling Li, email: liqiling@mail.xjtu.edu.cn Keywords: lymphatic leakage, postoperation, complication, chylous ascites, chylothorax Received: January 04, 2017      Accepted: April 11, 2017      Published: April 20, 2017 ABSTRACT Lymphatic complications are rare, but well-known phenomena, and have been described by many researchers. However, many diagnoses of lymphatic complications are found confusing due to different definition. A literature search in Pubmed was performed for studies postoperative lympatic complications. These complications divided into two parts: lymphatic leakage and lymphatic stasis. This review is about lymphatic leakage, especially, postoperative lymphatic leakage due to the injury of lymphatic channels in surgical procedures. According to polytrophic consequences, many types of postoperative lymphatic leakage have been presented, including lymph ascites, lymphocele, lymphorrhea, lymphatic fistula, chylous ascites, chylothorax, chyloretroperitoneum and chylorrhea. In this review, we focus on the definition, incidence and treatment about most of these forms of lymphatic complications to depict a comprehensive view of postoperative lymphatic leakage. We hold the idea that the method of treatment should be individual and personal according to manifestation and tolerance of patient. Meanwhile, conservative treatment is suitable and should be considered first.