• Mark Schurz, Nina Petras, Patrick Platzer, Friedrich Hofbauer, and Vilmos Vécsei.
• Department of Trauma Surgery, Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria. mark.schurz@meduniwien.ac.at.
• Eur J Trauma Emerg S. 2010 Feb 1;36(1):76-80.

AbstractChylothorax is a very rare disease, and its diagnosis following blunt chest trauma is exceptional. Only a small number of cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a male patient involved in a car accident presenting a delayed chylothorax after blunt chest trauma with a bilateral serial rib fracture and fracture of the ninth thoracic vertebrae. The therapy includes thorax drainage, dietary modifications with total parenteral nutrition and, in severe cases, PEEP ventilation. Hematological monitoring is mandatory to detect metabolic abnormalities resulting from chyle loss. Surgical treatment is only required in cases of persistent or increasing intrathoracal chyle flow. Thoracoscopic ligation of the thoracic duct is then required.Severe consequences, such as cardiopulmonary abnormalities and metabolic, nutritional and immunologic disorders, can result from chylothorax. Our patient was treated successfully by chest drainage and parenteral nutrition.

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