Journal List > Tuberc Respir Dis > v.72(1) > 1001765

Choi, Kang, Kim, Seo, Jung, Kim, and Lim: A Case of Chylothorax after Tube Thoracostomy

Abstract

Tube thoracostomy is known to cause complications such as bleeding or infection, but the incidence of chylothorax secondary to tube thoracostomy is under-reported, and therefore, we report this case. A patient was diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus with pleural and pericardial involvement. During repeated therapeutic thoracentesis, which were performed because of poor response to steroids and cylophosphamide, hemothorax developed and we therefore inserted a chest tube. The pleural effusion changed from red to milky color in several hours and we diagnosed the pleural effusion as chylothorax. Total parenteral nutrition based on medium-chain triglycerides was supplied to this patient and chylothorax was improved after 4 days.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
(A) Chest X-ray study before thoracentesis. (B) Large amount of pleural effusion occurred after thoracentesis due to iatrogenic hemothorax. (C) After chest tube insertion.
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Figure 2
Gross finding of pleural fluid after chest tube thoracostomy. The milky appearance of the pleural fluid with a top white, creamy layer in the container.
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Table 1
Pleural fluid profiles, lipid studies and lipoprotein electrophoresis
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