Peritoneoatrial shunting for intractable chylous ascites complicating thoracic duct ligation.

Thoracic duct ligation for chylothorax is considered a safe and efficient procedure. However, we observed two cases that were complicated by intractable chylous ascites. Refractory chylous ascites are usually cured by surgical peritoneovenous shunting, but in both patients successful treatment required peritoneoatrial shunting. Actually, a peritoneovenous shunt was impossible because of extensive venous thrombosis in jugular and superior vena cava in one patient and failed because of constrictive pericarditis requiring pericardectomy in the other, both underlying diseases also accounting for the thoracic duct ligation complications.