title: Chylothorax complicating thoracic surgery: conservative or early surgical management?
abstract: Postoperative chylothorax is a rare complication in thoracic surgery. There is considerable controversy concerning the management of chylothorax with some physicians favoring conservative treatment while others favor a surgical one. Considering the current surgical experience with VATS and by reviewing the problems and outcome of conservative management, the guidelines regarding timing of surgery in patients with chylous leak need to be revised.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Department, Sismanoglio General Hospital, Maroussi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Misthos
authors.forename: Meletios A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kanakis
authors.forename: Achilleas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lioulias
mesh_terms: D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures