title: Surgical management of chylopericardium and chylothorax in a patient with Behçet's disease.
abstract: Behçet's syndrome is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disease characterised classically by recurrent oral and genital ulcers with ocular lesions. It can affect blood vessels of all sizes, but involves veins more commonly than arterie. The presence of chylothorax in Behçet's syndrome is rare, with only a few cases cited in the literature. The most likely pathogenesis is SVC thrombosis with obstruction of the orifice of the thoracic duct resulting in leakage of chyle from the pleural lymphatics into the pleural space. The majority of the previously reported cases were managed medically without surgical intervention. We believe that this report describes the first use of surgery to ligate the thoracic duct and create a pericardial window in a Behçet's syndrome with chylothorax and chylopericardium.
authors.affiliation: Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK. emad@aljaaly.com
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al Jaaly
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patni
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Dorian O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Haskard
mesh_terms: D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010491:Pericardial Window Techniques; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult