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Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome
Published on: January 23, 2026
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Rare case of massive bilateral chylothorax
Guramrinder Singh Thind1, Dominika M Zoltowska1, Yashwant Agrawal1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Western Michigan University School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
BMJ Case Reports
|September 9, 2017
Summary
A patient developed chylothorax after multiple abdominal surgeries and a central line placement. Prompt chest tube drainage led to respiratory improvement and recovery, highlighting a rare complication of invasive procedures.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Critical Care
Background:
- A 48-year-old woman with a history of tubo-ovarian abscess underwent hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy.
- Post-operatively, she developed a colovaginal fistula and sigmoid colon perforation, necessitating a Hartmann's procedure and subphrenic abscess drainage.
Observation:
- The patient required intubation for acute respiratory failure and was transferred to our facility.
- Massive bilateral pleural effusions were identified, and chest tubes drained milky fluid, consistent with bilateral chylothorax.
Findings:
- Pleural fluid analysis confirmed chylothorax, a rare condition involving lymphatic fluid in the pleural space.
- The patient's respiratory status improved significantly after chest tube insertion and drainage, leading to extubation.
Implications:
- This case suggests chylothorax can be a complication of extensive abdominal surgeries or central venous catheterization.
- Effective management involved prompt diagnosis and thoracic intervention, leading to a favorable patient outcome.
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