ObjectivesTo compare the clinical efficacy of different surgical thoracic duct management on prevention of postoperative chylothorax and its impact on the outcome of the patients. MethodsWe searched the electronic databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2016), Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies and case-control studies related to the comparison of different surgical thoracic duct management during esophagectomy on prevention of postoperative chylothorax from inception to May 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then RevMan 5.2 software was used for meta-analysis. ResultsTwenty-three trials were included, involving four RCTs, four cohort studies and 15 case-control studies. The results of meta-analysis indicated:(1) Prophylactic thoracic duct ligation group had lower incidence of postoperative chylothorax compared with non thoracoic duct ligation group (RCT:OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.47, P=0.000 02; Co/CC:OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.28, P<0.000 01); (2) There were no significant differences between the two groups in the respect of mortality, morbidity and the 2-year, 3-year, 5-year survival rates (all P values >0.05); (3) Prophylactic thoracic duct ligation could reduce the reoperation rate of chylothorax complicating esophageal cancer patients (RCT:OR=0.17, 95%CI 0.10 to 0.28, P<0.000 01; Co/CC:OR=0.18, 95%CI to 0.11 to 0.32, P<0.000 01), and increase the cure rate of expectant treatment on them (OR=0.25, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.56, P=0.000 8); (4) En bloc thoracic duct ligation group had a lower incidence of postoperative chylothorax compared with single thoracic duct ligation group (OR=3.67, 95%CI 1.43 to 9.43, P=0.007). ConclusionProphylactic thoracic duct ligation during esophagectomy could effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative chylothorax and is good for reducing the reoperation rate of chylothorax complicating esophageal cancer patients. En bloc thoracic duct ligation has a better efficacy on prevention of postoperative chylothorax compared with single thoracic duct ligation.
The high incidence of hydatid disease in seven northwestern provinces, is one of the reason of "Poverty due to illness, and return poverty due to illness" in China. The incidence of chest hydatid disease in China after hepatic hydatid disease ranks second. Department of thoracic surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University is on the domestic leading position of the treatment of chest hydatid disease. Since 1956 the first case of pulmonary hydatid cyst were completed, we have successfully finished the surgical treatment of pediatric chest hydatid disease, chest hydatid disease complex, huge pulmonary hydatid cyst, mediastinal and pleural hydatid cyst, and rib hydatid in our department. To further standardize the treatment of chest hydatid disease, a special formulation of "technical specification for chest hydatid disease diagnosis expert consensus" by our department were produced, in order to help clinicians treat chest hydatid disease by more suitable strategies. This consensus was released in July 2015, for the original version. The definition, diagnosis, treatment principle, and prevention of chest hydatid disease were elaborated and clinical experiences of 60 years were combined with in this consensus, in order to help the clinicians for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hydatid disease.