Chylothorax: a complication after internal thoracic artery harvesting

Chylothorax is a rare but serious complication of cardiac surgery. A 64-year-old man with three-vessel disease underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Ten days later he developed left pleural effusion. An intercostal drain was inserted and 1600 ml of pale pink, milky fluid were obtained. The results of biochemical analysis were consistent with chyle. The diagnosis of a left chylothorax was made. Conservative treatment consisting of total parenteral nutrition and pleural drainage was successfully employed. In the literature we found 17 cases in which the development of chylothorax after a coronary revascularization procedure is described.