Background: Postoperative chyle leak (CL) is a common complication in pancreatic surgery, where extensive soft tissue clearance is indispensable. Currently, the efficacy of different treatment options for CL is unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate treatment options of patients with CL after pancreatic surgery. Methods: CL was defined according to the recently published definition of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery. 228 patients with CL or serous drainage after pancreatic surgery between 01/2014 and 03/2016 were included in this retrospective analysis. Early (≤5 days) and late drain removal were compared regarding the risk for CL and morbidity. A subgroup analysis on those patients who had drain removal despite of persistent CL with respect to the need of subsequent CT-guided drainage within three months postoperatively was performed. Results: At total of 60 patients with CL was identified. 41 patients with CL were treated with medium-chain triglyceride-diet, with a median duration of therapy of 12 days. Early drain removal is associated with a decreased risk or detection rate of CL (p = 0.008) and is not associated with an increased morbidity. After drain removal despite of persistent CL, none of the patients had CT-drainage with proof of CL within three months postoperatively. Conclusion: Early drain removal and removal of the surgical drains despite of persistent CL may be as safe as continuous drainage until complete resolution of CL.