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Chylothorax after blunt chest trauma: a report of 2 cases
J S Ikonomidis1, B R Boulanger, F D Brenneman
1Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Ont.
Abstract:
Chylothorax is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma and is associated with fracture-dislocation of the thoracic spine in only 20% of these cases. Two cases of chylothorax after blunt chest injury are described in this paper; 1 was related to a fracture of the third thoracic vertebra. Closed chest drainage and total parenteral nutrition led to resolution of the condition within 3 weeks in both cases. In general, traumatic chylothorax should be managed conservatively for at least 4 weeks before surgical intervention is considered.