Chyle fistula. Medical management with octreotide

Chyle fistula is an infrequent complication after neck surgery. The first line treatment is medical management, with adequate drainage and appropriate nutritional modifications. The use of octreotide in the treatment of chyle fistula is a novel approach that has been documented in only a few cases. We report a new case of thoracic duct injury effectively treated by octreotide, leading to an early decrease in drainage and early fistula closure with minimal adverse effects. This therapy may reduce length of hospital stay and morbidity. Further studies are required to confirm this observation.