CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF TRAUMATIC CHYLOTHORAX - A CASE-REPORT

A case is presented of a right traumatic chylothorax, secondary to tho racic trauma with bilateral posterior eleventh rib fracture, treated b y total parenteral nutrition and pleural drainage, with resolution wit hin 2 weeks. On the basis of this clinical report and of a review of t he literature, it is concluded that adequate conservative management s hould be initially the treatment of choice. Surgical treatment should be reserved to the cases in which clinical improvement does not occur within 2 weeks, and should consist of supradiaphragmatic thoracic duct ligation. Thoracoscopic fibrin glue injection has recently been descr ibed as a possible alternative treatment.