Intranodal lipiodol injection for the treatment of chyle leak in children – a preliminary experience

Amit Gupta, Priyanka Naranje, Zainab Vora, Raju Sharma, Manisha Jana, Ashu Seith Bhalla, Pallavi Sinha, Rohan Malik, Prabudh Goel, Anjan Dhua, Devasenathipathy Kandasamy
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
India

British Journal of Radiology
Br J Radiol 2022; 95:
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20211270

Abstract
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of intranodal lymphangiography using ethiodised oil (Lipiodol; Guerbet Japan, Tokyo, Japan) for the treatment of refractory cases of chylothorax and chylous ascites in the paediatric population.
Methods: Between 2016 and 2020, eight children having chyle leak resistant to conservative management underwent intranodal lymphangiography using lipiodol injection. After ethical approval by the Institutional Review Board, these patients’ data were retrospectively analysed. Technical success was defined by opacification of inguinal and retroperitoneal lymphatics while injection on fluoroscopy. Clinical success was defined as progressively decreasing drain output and eventual cessation of output within a week after the procedure. Long-term follow up was done as feasible.
Results: Technical success was achieved in all the patients. Complete cessation of drain output was noted within 1 week of procedure in all patients indicating clinical success. One patient had recurrence of chylous leakage after an interval of 1 month and intranodal lymphangiography was repeated for that patient. The child had technical as well as clinical success after the repeat procedure. Hence a total of 9 procedures were performed in 8 patients.
Conclusion: Intranodal lymphangiography may prove to be a valuable minimally invasive therapeutic tool in cases of refractory chylous leakage in paediatric patients with minimal risk of complications.

Category
Pulmonary Lymphatic Disease
Surgical and Catheter-mediated Interventions for Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Fresh or Filed Publication: Filed (PHiled). Greater than 1-2 years since publication

Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: No

Scroll to Top