Is bilateral chylothorax possible after simple cough? Yes.

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann

Department of Thoracic Surgery, GATA Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Published: May 2015

AI Article Synopsis

  • Chylothorax is the buildup of chylous fluid in the pleural space, often caused by damage to the thoracic duct, with different causes in children and adults.
  • In adults, it commonly arises after surgery or from tumor-related complications, while kids are usually less affected by these issues.
  • A 65-year-old woman experienced bilateral chylothorax after coughing, and her treatment involved a special diet and a procedure called thoracentesis to drain the fluid.

Article Abstract

Chylothorax is accumulation of chylous fluid in the pleural space due to impaired integrity of the thoracic duct or its branches. In childhood, the causes differ from those in adults because children less frequently develop malignancies and are more resistant to trauma. Commonly, chylothorax occurs as a complication of tumoral invasion or cardiopulmonary surgery. Treatment of chylothorax is essentially medical. In the event of medical treatment failure or a massive effusion, surgery is needed. We describe the case of a 65-year-old woman who developed bilateral chylothorax after a simple cough. She was treated with a medium-chain triglyceride diet and thoracentesis.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0218492314540161DOI Listing

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