[Thoracoscopic clipping of the thooracic duct for chylothorax following esophagectomy: report of a case].

Thoracoscopic clipping of the thoracic duct was successfully performed for the treatment of postoperative chylothorax. Chylothorax occurred in a 67-year-old man following an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Following unsuccessful conservative therapy for 3 weeks, we performed thoracoscopic surgery to examine the thoracic duct and found a leaking point of chylous fluid. The thoracic duct was successfully clipped resulting in complete elimination of the effusion immediately after surgery. Generally, chylothorax complicated by an esophagectomy has been managed by medical treatment first, followed by surgical intervention in case of uncontrollable pleural effusion. We think you should try this method at first in case chylothorax was able to be treated with not thoracotomy but thoracoscopic surgery: minimal invasiveness.