Pathology
A chyle fistula is a leakage of lymphatic fluid from the lymphatic vessels, typically accumulating in the thoracic or abdominal cavities, possibly leading to a chylothorax or chylous ascites, respectively.
Treatment of a chyle fistula relies on ligation of the duct. This is because direct repair is impractical owing to the extreme friability of the thoracic duct.
An alternative treatment is the subcutaneous use of the drug octreotide (a synthetic analogue of somatostatin). This can lead to complete resolution of production of chyle, and avoids the need for surgery.
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