Chylous ascites is a rare condition caused by a leak of chyle, a natural body fluid, into the abdominal cavity. It can be caused by various factors, including cancer and cirrhosis. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and fever. Treatment involves finding and resolving the underlying cause, and may include a low-fat diet, diuretics, and surgery.
Chylous ascites refers to a leak of a natural body fluid called chyle into the abdominal cavity from a duct in the lymphatic system. It is a rare condition that can be caused by many different factors. Blunt trauma to the abdomen, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and surgical procedures can lead to this condition. Without treatment, a person may experience severe abdominal pain, nausea, and fever. Treatment measures are aimed at finding and resolving the underlying cause in sufficient time to prevent serious complications.
Chyle is a thick white substance composed mostly of triglycerides and other fat deposits absorbed from the small intestine. The substance travels through small lymph vessels to the main thoracic duct, where it can then drain and nourish the entire body. An obstruction in the thoracic duct, lymph node, or another element of the lymphatic system can cause a rupture that leaks the chyle into the open spaces in the abdomen.
The most common causes of chylous ascites are primary or secondary tumors of the lymph nodes. The tumors block the lymphatic ducts, cause irritation and eventually lead to ruptures. Chronic inflammatory conditions such as tuberculosis and cirrhosis can also lead to lymphatic complications, as well as serious, direct injury to the abdomen. When the condition is present in children, birth defects of the thoracic duct are usually found. Occasionally, chylous ascites is an accidental result of surgery to correct an abdominal hernia or remove a cancerous lymph node.
The first signs of chylous ascites usually include a slight distension of the abdomen and feelings of nausea. A person may feel like they have a severe stomach ache, which can cause a loss of appetite. Fever, fatigue and weakness are common as the kilo continues to pile on. Other symptoms such as jaundice, joint pain, anemia, and headaches may also be present, depending on the underlying cause.
Doctors can usually diagnose this condition by evaluating physical symptoms and doing imaging scans of the abdomen. To confirm the diagnosis, a thin, hollow needle is inserted into the socket to take a sample of the fluid. Ascites is evaluated in a hospital laboratory to make sure it is indeed a buildup of kilo.
Treatment for chylous ascites typically involves starting a low-fat diet and using diuretics to help flush the body. A patient experiencing severe symptoms may need to be hospitalized so that a shunt can be placed in the abdomen to extract the excess pounds. If a tumor is discovered, it may need to be surgically removed to stop the loss of pounds. Most patients are able to recover quickly from chylous ascites, but ongoing treatment and monitoring is usually required to combat the underlying chronic health problems.
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