Chylopericardium after cardiac operations in children.
BACKGROUND
Chylopericardium is a rare complication after operation for congenital heart disease. The incidence and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of surgical patients are unknown.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records spanning more than 12 years in a single institution of 16 children with chylopericardium after cardiac operation.


RESULTS
We identified 16 patients with chylopericardium between 1985 and 1997. Chylopericardium was isolated in 7 patients. Twelve patients required pericardial drainage. Patients with isolated chylopericardium presented late and were treated initially as having postpericardiotomy syndrome. Three patients underwent thoracic duct ligation. There were two late deaths unrelated to the chylothorax. Associated diagnoses were internal jugular vein thrombosis and recurrent pulmonary vein obstruction (1 of 16 patients), an associated syndrome but not Turner or Noonan (10 of 16), superior cavopulmonary or total cavopulmonary anastomosis (7 of 16), atrioventricular septal defect repair (5 of 16), and repair of tetralogy of Fallot (2 of 16).


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous drainage to relieve tamponade together with a low-fat or medium-chain triglyceride diet results in resolution in most cases of postoperative chylopericardium. If a pericardial effusion enlarges, fails to clear on aspirin therapy, or presents late after hospital discharge, diagnostic pericardial tap and a low-fat diet are indicated.
Campbell
R M
RM
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Benson
L N
LN
Williams
W W
WW
Adatia
I
I
D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011185:Postpericardiotomy Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors