Endolymphatic Ethiodized Oil Intranodal Lymphangiography and Cyanoacrylate Glue Embolization for the Treatment of Postoperative Lymphatic Leak After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Pelvic Resection

Purpose: To report the approach, technical success, clinical outcomes, complications, and follow-up of ethiodized oil intranodal lymphangiography with cyanoacrylate glue embolization for the treatment of lymphatic leak after robot-assisted laparoscopic pelvic resection. Materials and Methods: Four men with mean age 68.7 ± 14.3 years were treated with ethiodized oil intranodal lymphangiography with cyanoacrylate embolization for postoperative lymphatic leak. Patients underwent either (1) cystoprostatectomy with ileal conduit and bilateral extensive pelvic lymph node dissection for muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma and presented with postoperative lymphatic ascites (n = 2) or (2) prostatectomy with bilateral standard pelvic lymph node dissection for prostate carcinoma and presented with postoperative pelvic lymphoceles (n = 2). Intranodal lymphangiography and embolization procedural details, technical success, clinical outcomes, and follow-up were recorded. Results: In four patients, a total of six ethiodized oil intranodal lymphangiograms were performed, two procedures being repeated interventions. Inguinal lymph node catheterization and ethiodized oil lymphangiography was technically effective in all procedures. A mean of 5.2 ± 2.0 mL of ethiodized oil was used for lymphatic opacification. Cyanoacrylate was diluted to 24.2% with ethiodized oil and 0.44 mL of cyanoacrylate was instilled during first time interventions. On repeat procedures, cyanoacrylate was diluted to 51.7%, and 0.52 mL was instilled. The primary clinical success rate was 50% (n = 2/4). Clinical success was achieved in all patients after two interventions (n = 4; 100%). No complications were reported at mean follow-up of 134.7 ± 79.2 days (range: 59–248 days). Conclusion: Ethiodized oil intranodal lymphangiography with direct cyanoacrylate glue embolization is a minimally invasive treatment option for lymphatic leak after pelvic resection.