|
|
Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2006;17(6): 659-663. |
| A Case of Chylothorax after Blunt Chest Trauma Accompanied by Nephrotic Syndrome |
| Sam Beom Lee, Sung Hoon Lee, Jung Ho Kim, Jae Young Lee, Jong Won Si, Byung Soo Do |
| Department of Emergency Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. sblee@med.yu.ac.kr |
|
|
|
|
|
| ABSTRACT |
|
Chylothorax after blunt chest trauma is very rare and is generally caused by injuries to the thoracic duct or its major tributaries. Such an injury can cause a fistula, a localized collection of chyle known as a chyloma, or an intrapleural collection referred to as a chylothorax. We report a case of chylothorax attributed to thoracic duct injury after an in-car traffic accident, accompanied by nephrotic syndrome diagnosed after admission. An 11-year-old male was admitted because of dyspnea developed three days previously after an in-car traffic accident. He also complained of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort after meals. We took chest X-ray films and a chest CT scan in the emergency department, which showed pleural effusion on both sides and massive ascites. Diagnostic thoracentesis was then done, the aspirated fluid showed a milky-white appearance and fluid analysis showed chyle. Tube thoracostomy with fluid and nutritional support was administered but a week later the patient was more edematous and laboratory results revealed nephrotic features. After a further ten days, the patient was discharged with some symptomatic improvement, not confirmed by pathologic diagnosis. |
| Key words:
Chylothorax, Blunt injury, Thoracic Duct, Nephrotic Syndrome |
|
|
|
PDF Links
Full text via DOI 
Download Citation 
