Chylous ascites complicating genitourinary oncological surgery.

Chylous ascites is an uncommon complication of retroperitoneal surgery. We report 2 cases of intraperitoneal chyle fistulas, one following retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for testis cancer and the other after radical nephrectomy with regional lymphadenectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Both patients were treated successfully with medium chain triglyceride diets. We believe that most patients with chylous ascites will respond to simple dietary manipulation, and do not require complex and potentially morbid treatment regimens.