Effect of Ligation of the Thoracic Duct During Oesophagectomy on the Absorption of D-xylose.

Objective: To assess if prophylactic thoracic duct ligation during oesophagectomy influences the absorptive function of oesophageal cancer patients.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, from August 2014 to December 2015.

Methodology: Based on the management of the thoracic duct during oesophagectomy, 60 patients were randomized into two groups. D-xylose absorption test was used to evaluate the absorptive function. The two-independent-samples t-test was employed for statistical analysis with statistical significance at p < 0.05.

Results: The serum D-xylose concentration of ligation-group was significantly lower than that of no-ligation group on the first day after operation, (t=2.82, p=0.0066). However, there was no significant differences between them even before operation (t=1.34, p=0.1849).

Conclusion: Ligation of the thoracic duct during oesophagectomy immediately affected the absorption of D-xylose, which may lead to malabsorption in the long run.