Obstructed Thoracic Duct Stent in a Patient With Recurrence of Chyluria After Treatment

Abstract

Background Thoracic duct (TD) stenting is considered a possible treatment for some pathological conditions caused by TD obstruction, including chyluria. Several studies reported on the efficacy of TD stent treatment, but few studies have evaluated flow through the stent after being deployed. This report aims to describe the flow through a TD stent and the efficacy of renal-lymphatic fistula embolization in the treatment of chyluria. Case presentation we report a case of chyluria treated by TD stent previously, but the symptoms recurred after four months. The second intervention we found the stent was obstructed by debris. We recanalized the stent and successful catheterised the microcatheter through the stent retrograde into the TD then into the renal-lymphatic fistula branch. After embolization of that abnormal branch, no recurrent symptom of chyluria happened. Conclusion stent in the TD is foreign body which may be stuck by debris in the TD. The key to treatment of spontaneous chyluria might be the embolization of renal-lymphatic fistula.