Use of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate tissue glue in thoracic duct injury during neck dissection surgery.

Although thoracic duct injury is an uncommon complication of neck dissection, it can have a significant physiological and immunological impact on the patient's recovery as well as having more serious effects. We report a novel technique of using cyanoacrylate tissue glue for managing thoracic duct damage when this is noted at the time of neck dissection surgery. We have used this technique in four patients with no post-operative chyle leak or added complications.