Management of Chyle Leak Following Head and Neck Surgery: Review of Current Treatment Strategies and Algorithmic Approach to Treatment

Abstract

Postoperative chyle leak is a rare but serious complication of head and neck surgery. Chyle leak can lead to a systemic metabolic imbalance, a prolonged wound healing and longer hospital stay. Early identification and treatment are crucial for good surgical outcome. The diagnosis can be made intraoperatively or in the early postoperative period. Various treatment options described in the literature can be divided into conservative and surgical modalities. Currently, there is no evidence that any approach is superior to the other due to relatively small number of studies describing chyle leak management. There are no official guidelines for the treatment of postoperative chyle leak. The aim of this article is to present the therapeutic possibilities and to offer an algorithm for chyle leak management.

Keywords

• Chyle
• Neck dissection
• Thoracic duct
• Algorithm