Chylous Ascites

Chylous ascites is a condition in which the chyle leaks into the peritoneal cavity.

The most common causes of this condition, are trauma, surgery or oncological disorders. In certain cases, the chylous ascites can happen without apparent cause and is called idiopathic. As with other chylous leak disorders, the patients can suffer from malnutrition immune deficiency due to loss of the nutrients and immune factors in the fluid.

To diagnose this condition, we initially perform DCMRL. In case of the identification of the leak on the DCMRL, we perform intranodal lymphangiography and lymphatic embolization.

In some cases, where DCMRL doesn’t identify the location of the leak we will perform liver and intranodal lymphangiography, that can demonstrate the leakage of the lymphatic fluid in the body.

If the cause of the leak is identified, interstiatial lymphatic embolization is performed.

If the percutaneous approach is unsuccessful, surgical exploration can be performed in order to close the leak.