title: Nonoperative management of traumatic chylothorax.
abstract: Chylothorax is known for its rarity, and its diagnosis following blunt chest trauma is exceptional. Only a small number of cases have been reported in the literature. Severe consequences, such as cardiopulmonary abnormalities and metabolic, nutritional, and immunologic disorders, can result from chylothorax. Management of chylothorax is challenging. It can either be managed nonoperatively or surgically. Surgical treatment is required in cases of persistent or high output fistulae. We report here in three cases of blunt trauma chest following road traffic crash associated with chylothorax. All of them were successfully managed nonoperatively with inter costal tube drainage and supportive treatment sans need of any operative intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, JPN Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029 India.
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, JPN Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029 India.
authors.forename: Biplab
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, JPN Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029 India.
authors.forename: Asuri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, JPN Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029 India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, JPN Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029 India.
authors.forename: Sushma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, JPN Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029 India.
authors.forename: Maneesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, JPN Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029 India.
authors.forename: Mahesh C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Misra
keywords: Blunt trauma chest; Chylothorax; Traumatic chylothorax