Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Spontaneous chylothorax--case report
A A el-Dawlatly1, K al-Kattan, W Hajjar
1Department of Anaesthesia, College of Medicine, King Saud University, King Khaled University Hospital (KKUH), P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, KSA. dawlatly@Ksu.edu.sa
Abstract:
A-19-year old male patient complained of shortness of breath. Aspiration of the pleural fluid revealed chylothorax. Right chest tube was inserted. His ABG showed hypoxaemia with relative hypercarbia. He underwent right thoracotomy and thoracic duct ligation under general anaesthesia and double lumen endobroncheal intubation. During surgery he lost 1.5 L of blood and 4 L chyle. He was transferred to the SICU intubated and on mechanical ventilation. On the subsequent days chyle leak was reduced to a minimum of 10 ml/hr. On the 9th postoperative day the patient was extubated. He was receiving TPN 2600 kcal/day. He was transferred to the normal floor on the 15th day. After 7 day he was readmitted, his chest showed severe lung fibrosis and consolidation. His ABG showed severe hypercarbia (PaCO2 = 126 mmHg). The patient was intubated. His condition deteriorated and he was considered for lung transplantation. No donor was available. Later he arrested and died. Anaesthesia and surgical management of spontaneous chylothorax is challenging. The mortality rate is high.
Related Concept Videos
Flail Chest-I
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...
Pneumothorax-I
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
Cholecystitis
