We have located links that may give you full text access.
Case Reports
Journal Article
Management of nontraumatic chylothorax.
Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1981 June
Twenty-two patients with chylothorax have been treated at the National Institutes of Health since 1955. In 9 of these patients, the condition resulted from an antecedent operation and in 13, it occurred without a history of prior operation (nontraumatic). All 6 of the patients with tumors in whom nontraumatic chylothorax developed had a lymphoma. Four of these 6 also had a chylous ascites, while 6 of the 7 patients without tumors had an associated chylous ascites. Only 3 of the 13 patients with nontraumatic chylothorax responded to nonoperative therapy alone with stabilization of the pleural effusions. A single patient with systemic lupus erythematosus responded to steroid therapy. In contrast, 3 of 4 patients who underwent thoracotomy for nontraumatic chylothorax had permanent relief of their chylous pleural effusions. In the absence of medically treatable disease, thoracotomy with ligation of the thoracic duct and/or pleurectomy or pleurodesis can provide substantial palliation for patients with nontraumatic chylothorax, even when a discrete source of lymph leakage cannot be localized or ascites is present. Early surgical therapy of nontraumatic chylothorax is advocated in such circumstances.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app