Successful percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography and embolization for intractable hepatic lymphorrhea after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a case report

Bibliographic Details
Title: Successful percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography and embolization for intractable hepatic lymphorrhea after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a case report
Authors: Kohei Harigane, Hiroshi Nemoto, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Hiromasa Komori, Hideki Sarukawa, Naoki Yazawa, Taku Miyamae
Source: Surgical Case Reports, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-6 (2023)
Publisher Information: SpringerOpen, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Surgery
Subject Terms: Hepatic lymphorrhea, Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, Percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography, Embolization, Surgery, RD1-811
More Details: Abstract Background Hepatic lymphorrhea is a rare and serious complication of surgery for digestive tract cancers and is thought to occur as a result of lymph node dissection of the hepatoduodenal ligament. This complication results in the accumulation of lymphatic fluid, which may in turn lead to nutritional disorders, immune deficiency, and circulation insufficiency. However, there is currently no standard strategy for treating this condition. Case presentation A 49-year-old woman with alcoholic liver damage underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for early gastric cancer. Abundant ascites persisted postoperatively, and the fluid was suspected to indicate hepatic lymphorrhea. The patient was re-admitted on postoperative day 26 due to the onset of a brain infarction caused by dehydration. Various conservative treatments for hepatic lymphorrhea were ineffective. She underwent percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography and embolization on postoperative day 81, with obvious effect. Computed tomography images demonstrated complete disappearance of ascites. Conclusions Postoperative hepatic lymphorrhea is a rare and serious complication of radical surgery for digestive tract cancers. The current case suggests that percutaneous transhepatic lymphangiography and embolization may be a rational treatment option when conservative treatments fail.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2198-7793
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2198-7793
DOI: 10.1186/s40792-023-01615-w
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/a0d771e6a586464fbeb18fd6703136ff
Accession Number: edsdoj.0d771e6a586464fbeb18fd6703136ff
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:21987793
DOI:10.1186/s40792-023-01615-w
Published in:Surgical Case Reports
Language:English