title: Chylothorax following cardiac surgery caused by unusual lymphatic anatomy.
abstract: Chylothorax due to injury to the thoracic duct and lymphatic channels during left internal thoracic artery harvest is well described. However, high volume leakage of chyle due to disruption of aberrant thymic collateral lymphatic channel in the anterior mediastinum has not been described previously. We describe such a case which was managed by early surgical exploration, ligation of the aberrant duct, and insertion of a pleuro-peritoneal shunt.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahaman
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caputo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008026:Ligation; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome