Postesophagectomy mediastinal chylothorax causing upper airway obstruction misdiagnosed as asthma: a report of two cases.
Injury to the thoracic duct resulting in chylothorax is an uncommon but well-documented complication of esophagectomy. In two cases, which were associated with signs of life-threatening upper airway obstruction, an initial diagnosis of asthma was made. It appears that this complication of esophagectomy has not been reported previously.
Theaker
N J
NJ
Department of Anesthetics, City General Hospital, Staffordshire, England.
Brady
P W
PW
Fisher
M M
MM
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000293:injuries*