Bilateral traumatic chylothorax.
We report the case of a 27-year-old man with bilateral chylothorax. The patient presented with shortness of breath and bilateral pleural effusions three days after a motor vehicle accident. The diagnosis was established when tube thoracostomy revealed chylous drainage. During hospitalization approximately 8 L of chyle were removed. Bilateral chylothorax secondary to blunt trauma has rarely been reported. The etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and recommended therapy are reviewed.
D000328:Adult; D002913:Chyle / Q000032:analysis; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*