title: Late-onset chylothorax after pulmonary resection for lung cancer.
abstract: Chylothorax is a relatively rare complication of thoracic surgery. Most instances of chylothorax after pulmonary resection are diagnosed within 3 days after surgery. Hence, late-onset chylothorax is rare. A 68-year-old woman underwent right lower lobectomy and mediastinal dissection for lung cancer. After discharge, the patient developed a dry cough, and chest radiography more than 3 months after surgery revealed a right-sided pleural effusion occupying more than half of the right hemithorax, which we diagnosed as late-onset chylothorax. Treatment comprised chest drainage, subcutaneous octreotide, and pleurodesis by injecting a preparation of OK-432. Follow-up chest radiography confirmed no reaccumulation of fluid. Three months later no recurrence of pleural effusion was detected. We report a rare case of postoperative late-onset chylothorax that proved difficult to treat.
authors: Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Hachinohe City Hospital, 1 Tamukai aza Bishamontaira, Hachinohe, Aomori 031-8555, Japan.
authors: Maiko
authors: M
authors: Tabu
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Imai
authors: Jun-ichi
authors: J
authors: Ogawa
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Minamiya
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Yoshida
authors: Kyo
authors: K
authors: Hirayama
authors: Takeyuki
authors: T
authors: Sawano
authors: Ikuo
authors: I
authors: Matsuzaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D010844:Picibanil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000379:methods; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010844:Picibanil; D015282:Octreotide