Blunt trauma-induced bilateral chylothorax

This report describes the case of a man who presented in a delayed manner a fter blunt trauma with bilateral chylothoraces, a rare result of trauma. He presented with shortness of breath and chest pain. A diagnostic workup res ulted in the determination of traumatic chylothorax, His course in the hosp ital identified a disruption at a level of the 5th thoracic vertebra. No su rgical ligation was required because his leak spontaneously sealed after co nservative measures. The anatomy, physiology, mechanisms, and management of this injury are discussed. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.