Successful management of chylous ascites after pancreatoduodenectomy using etilefrine: a case report

An 84-year-old woman underwent subtotal stomach pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for distal cholangiocarcinoma. Over 1000 ml of serous ascites, which appeared milky after starting a high-protein, low-fat, middle-chain triglyceride diet, was discharged from the inserted drain. On postoperative day (POD) 13, she underwent right hemicolectomy for transverse colonic volvulus, which occurred on POD 9 and was refractory to conservative therapies. Following second surgery, the chylous ascites (CA) amount continued to increase. Octreotide, albumin and diuretics were administered, but the amount of ascites did not decrease. Etilefrine was administered on POD 19; the ascites amount gradually decreased. The drain was removed 3 days after etilefrine administration. She had no symptoms of abdominal distention after drain removal. Etilefrine’s effectiveness for chylothorax after esophagectomy and CA after distal pancreatectomy has been reported. We present a case of CA successfully treated by etilefrine following PD. Our case highlights etilefrine’s usefulness for CA following PD.