Chylopericardium in a drug addict

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Medical Case Reports

Background:

• Nontraumatic chylopericardium, the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pericardial sac, is an uncommon clinical presentation.
• Chylopericardium typically occurs secondary to other conditions, such as malignancy or trauma, and is often accompanied by chylothorax.

Observation:

• This report details a rare instance of nontraumatic chylopericardium occurring in the absence of chylothorax.
• The patient's condition was notably associated with a history of intravenous drug addiction, an association previously unreported in medical literature.

Findings:

• The patient with chylopericardium and intravenous drug addiction underwent a total pericardiectomy.
• Post-surgical follow-up at 24 months revealed no recurrence of the chylopericardium, indicating the efficacy of the surgical procedure.

Implications:

• This case highlights a novel association between intravenous drug addiction and chylopericardium.
• Total pericardiectomy appears to be an effective treatment for this rare condition, offering a potential management strategy for similar future cases.