Successful treatment of persistent chylopericardium with somatostatin after operation on ascending aorta

Chylopericardium after intrathoracic surgical procedures rarely occurs. Optimal guidelines for the management of chylopericardium are lacking. In this case report, we describe our experience in treating chylopericadium with somatostatin in a 47-year-old man who underwent replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valvuloplasty after aortic rupture. Postoperatively, a late tamponade was drained, and microbiologic analyses confirmed chyle. Conservative treatment including total parental nutrition failed, so we initiated somatostatin treatment as a continuous perfusion, with good results.