%0 Journal Article
%T Lymph or Chyle Leak After Neck Dissection in Patients With Thyroid Carcinoma: Results of a Study on 1724 Patients.
%A Wang X
%A Wang S
%A Li C
%A Ruan Y
%A Li Y
%A Liu J
%A Guo Z
%J Am Surg
%V 0
%N 0
%D Mar 2021 4
%M 33662220
%F 1.002
%R 10.1177/0003134820981723
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>To discuss the prevention and treatment of lymph or chyle leak following neck dissection in patients with thyroid carcinoma.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A total of 1724 patients with thyroid carcinoma received neck dissection in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between November 2009 and October 2014. The incidence and management of leak were analyzed.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>A total of 92 (5.34%) patients developed leak, 28 (1.62%) developed lymph leak, 59 (3.42%) developed chyle leak, and 5 (.29%) developed chylothorax. Medical management to stop postoperative lymph or chyle leak included pressure dressing, reoperation, fasting, or low-fat diet therapy.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Lymph or chyle leak may occur in thyroid carcinoma patients who underwent neck dissection. Clinicians should alert to leak when there were IV + VI region lymph node metastasis and should become aware of chylothorax after pressure dressing. A careful identification and ligation of lymphatic duct may be an effective way to avoid lymph or chyle leak.