Iatrogenic Chylothorax in Major Burn Patient: Case Report and Literature Review
Pornprom Muangman MD*, Jeffrey R Scott MD**, Saipin Muangman MD***, Rachanee Benjathanung HN*, Supaparn Suvanchote RN*
Affiliation : * Burn Unit, Trauma Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Division of Plastic Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, USA *** Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Chylothorax is a potentially life-threatening form of pleural effusion containing lymphatic fluid. Its etiology may be either traumatic (either post-operative or a direct result of injury), a congenital abnormality of the thoracic duct, or non-traumatic. This is a case report of a left iatrogenic chylothorax, which developed 2 days after internal jugular vein catheterization, in a patient with 50% total body surface area (TBSA) burns. This complication was treated successfully by tube thoracostomy and oral supplementation with a low fat, high carbohydrate, high protein diet. Further, the authors review the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presen- tation and recommended management of catheter-related chylothorax.
Keywords : Chylothorax, Burn, Catheter
