title: Massive chylopericardium after coronary artery bypass surgery.
abstract: Massive isolated chylopericardium is a rare postoperative complication of coronary artery bypass surgery. In the following case, massive chylopericardium developed after a coronary artery bypass procedure in which the left internal mammary artery was used for revascularization. The chylopericardium resulted from direct trauma to the thoracic duct during mobilization of the left internal mammary artery to its origin at the subclavian artery. With adequate drainage, the problem was resolved. In cases in which drainage persists, ligation of the thoracic duct may be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery and the Surgical Research Laboratories, Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, USA.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Travers
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Marrangoni
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: DiMarco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekoe
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Woelfel