title: Bilateral pleural effusion following cervical abscess drainage: a case report.
abstract: Postoperative bilateral chylothorax after cervical surgery has been rarely reported, whereas unilateral chylothorax has been occasionally reported after thoracic surgery. Here, we report a rare case of bilateral pleural effusion that developed after cervical abscess drainage. On the second day after the drainage, the patient felt dyspnea, and bilateral pleural effusion was found on a chest X-ray. The effusion was thought to be chyle and was successfully treated with conservative management. Additionally here, we have suggested that non-traumatic chylothorax was caused by increasing intraluminal pressure occurring inside the thoracic duct after its ligation. Careful follow up of any respiratory symptoms and of chest X-rays is recommended after cervical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tayama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsuoka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirouzu
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*