Question:  A 57 year old male undergoes wide field tonsillectomy and ipsilateral levels II through IV neck dissection for an HPV positive squamous cell carcinoma.  On postoperative day 2 his drain output increases to 200 cc and becomes whitish in color.  Your colleague advises you to start octreotide therapy.  What complication occurred in this case and what is the mechanism of octreotide in its treatment?  [Answer will be posted with next week's new question]

Answer to last week's question, "Coming Back For More" (September 26, 2016): 

Single dose external beam radiation has been utilized successfully to prevent recurrence.

PS: Apologies for the couple weeks without a question - we're back on schedule now!