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  • Title: Use of LeVeen pleuroperitoneal shunt for refractory high-volume chylothorax.
    Author: Gupta D, Ross K, Piacentino V, Stepnowski D, McClurken JB, Furukawa S, Dempsey DT.
    Journal: Ann Thorac Surg; 2004 Jul; 78(1):e9-12. PubMed ID: 15223489.
    Abstract:
    We present a case of intractable high-volume (> 2L/d) chylothorax after transhiatal esophagectomy treated successfully with the simultaneous insertion of both Denver (Denver Biomedical, Golden, CO) and LeVeen (Becton-Dickinson, Rutherford, NJ) pleuroperitoneal shunts. The patient initially had chemoradiotherapy for a T4N1 squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus. Re-staging showed a dramatic shrinkage of tumor, and a transhiatal esophagectomy was performed. Sequential bilateral thoracotomies were performed on postoperative days 19 and 26 for attempted control of high-volume chylothorax, but these were unsuccessful. Subsequent pleuroperitoneal shunt insertion was used, which immediately controlled the effusion. A shunt study was performed shortly after hospital discharge, which showed an occluded Denver shunt and a patent LeVeen shunt. The patient succumbed to metastatic carcinoma 18 months after discharge, but no pleural effusion had recurred.
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