EJCTS Click here for details of sales representative
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

 Click here to read this article as a CME activity

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Author home page(s):
Matus Petko
Martin P. Hayward
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Nair, S. K.
Right arrow Articles by Hayward, M. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Nair, S. K.
Right arrow Articles by Hayward, M. P.
Related Collections
Right arrow Pleura
Right arrow Education

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2007;32:362-369. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2007.04.024
Copyright © 2007, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Review

Aetiology and management of chylothorax in adults

Sukumaran K. Nair*, Matus Petko, Martin P. Hayward

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Heart Hospital, University College London NHS Trust, 16-18 Westmoreland Street, London W1G 8PH, United Kingdom

Received 12 February 2007; received in revised form 15 April 2007; accepted 18 April 2007.

* Corresponding author. Address: Harefield Hospital, Hill End Road, Harefield UB9 6JH, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 1895 823737; fax: +44 1895 828666. (Email: suku50{at}hotmail.com).

Though rare in incidence, chylothorax can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Its occurrence corresponds to increased mortality following esophagectomy. Leakage of chyle and lymph leads to significant loss of essential proteins, immunoglobulins, fat, vitamins, electrolytes and water. The presence of chylomicrons and a triglyceride level >110 mg/dl in the aspirated pleural fluid confirms the diagnosis of chylothorax. Identifying the aetiology using different diagnostic tests is important in planning treatment. While therapeutic thoracentesis provides relief from respiratory symptoms, the nutritional deficiency will continue to persist or deteriorate unless definitive therapeutic measures are instituted to stop leakage of chyle into the pleural space. Definitive therapy consists of obliteration and prevention of recurrence of chylothorax. Aggressive surgical therapy is recommended for post-traumatic or post-surgical chylothorax.

Key Words: Lymph • Thoracic duct • Chylothorax




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
S. I. Sersar
Chylothorax revisited
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., June 1, 2008; 33(6): 1159 - 1159.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 2007 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier. All rights reserved.