Incidence and etiology of chylothorax after congenital heart surgery in children.

Background: Chylothorax is a rare but serious postoperative condition with a high rate of morbidity and may lead to the mortality of children undergoing congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery. This study evaluated the specific surgical procedures associated with the higher risk of postoperative chylothorax.

Methods: We assessed 435 cases undergoing CHD surgery between April 2003 and May 2006.