[Clinical features of postoperative chylothorax for lung cancer and esophageal cancer].

Objective: To define the clinical features of postoperative chylothorax for lung cancer (PCLC), and to compare them with those for esophageal cancer (PCEC).

Method: We retrospectively analysed clinical characteristics of 12 patients with chylothorax among 4 084 patients receiving resection of lung cancer, as well as 52 in 4 479 patients having resection of esophageal cancer since 1985 at our hospital.

Results: The incidence of PCLC was 0.29% and that of PCEC was 1.16%. The percentage of diagnosis confirmed within 4 postoperative days was 33.3% for PCLC, and 76.9% for PCEC. The rate of typical chylous pleural effusion was 83.3% for PCLC, and 5.8% for PCEC. Symptoms and signs of PCLC were much milder than those of PCEC. The re-operation rate was 16.7% for PCLC, and 96.2% for PCEC. All patients were discharged uneventfully.

Conclusion: The incidence, causes, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of PCLC is different from those of PCEC.