Biomaterial Database

Combined chylopericardium and chylothorax after total correction of Fallot's tetralogy. 1984

Y Papaioannou, and A Vomvoyannis, and G Andritsakis

Chylothorax as a complication of cardiovascular surgery has a reported incidence of lower than 0.5% and is extremely rare following intrapericardial procedures. Chylopericardium in particular has a reported incidence even lower than that of chylothorax. The origin of these complications is, in either case, a direct injury to the thoracic duct or a thrombosis at the junction of the left jugular and subclavian veins obstructing thoracic duct drainage and, finally, injury to the anterior mediastinum lymphatics in the thymus area. A case is presented where chylopericardium occurred in combination with chylothorax after operation for total correction of Fallot's tetralogy. The management was conservative, consisting of evacuation of chyle and adequate protein replacement along with a low fat diet. The alternative, operative management in the form of a low ligation of the thoracic duct, should be considered if the conservative management fails after 2 weeks of trial.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007601	Jugular Veins	Veins in the neck which drain the brain, face, and neck into the brachiocephalic or subclavian veins.	Jugular Vein,Vein, Jugular,Veins, Jugular
D008026	Ligation	Application of a ligature to tie a vessel or strangulate a part.	Ligature,Ligations,Ligatures
D008297	Male		Males
D010490	Pericardial Effusion	Fluid accumulation within the PERICARDIUM. Serous effusions are associated with pericardial diseases. Hemopericardium is associated with trauma. Lipid-containing effusion (chylopericardium) results from leakage of THORACIC DUCT. Severe cases can lead to CARDIAC TAMPONADE.	Chylopericardium,Hemopericardium,Chylopericardiums,Effusion, Pericardial,Effusions, Pericardial,Pericardial Effusions
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002913	Chyle	An opaque, milky-white fluid consisting mainly of emulsified fats that passes through the lacteals of the small intestines into the lymphatic system.	Chyles
D002916	Chylothorax	The presence of chyle in the thoracic cavity. (Dorland, 27th ed)
D004322	Drainage	The removal of fluids or discharges from the body, such as from a wound, sore, or cavity.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013350	Subclavian Vein	The continuation of the axillary vein which follows the subclavian artery and then joins the internal jugular vein to form the brachiocephalic vein.	Subclavian Veins,Vein, Subclavian,Veins, Subclavian