Traumatic chylothorax: a case report.
A case of traumatic chylothorax following a motor vehicle accident is presented. This is a rare injury following thoracic trauma and is associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Mechanisms of injury to the thoracic duct are described. A management strategy is suggested, which initially entails a trial of conservative therapy of adequate drainage, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and total gut rest. If significant chyle losses persist after 2 weeks, surgery is indicated, as immunological factors may complicate recovery. The recommended surgical technique is transthoracic duct ligation directly or at the hiatus.
Grant
P W
PW
Cardiothoracic Department, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Brown
S W
SW
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications