Pleuroperitoneal shunt in the management of chylothorax caused by thoraciclymphatic dysplasia

Three cases of intractable chylothorax secondary to thoracic lymphatic dysp lasia were treated by pleuroperitoneal shunt insertion. These cases include d one with Gorham's syndrome, and one case with a bilateral chylothorax and chylous ascites. Pleuroperitoneal shunts allowed an adequate internal drai nage in all cases, alleviating protein and lymphocyte losses caused by recu rrent pleural taps. In the third case with chylous ascites, valved shunts w ere used to avoid reflux between the peritoneal cavity and the pleural spac e. Such palliative therapy did not change the bad prognosis of these patien ts with lymphatic disorders but improved the children's quality of life. J Pediatr Surg 34:1420-1422. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.