One Case of Surgical Treatment for Chylothorax following Closed Thoracic Injury

폐쇄성 흉부손상후 발생한 유미흉 1례 보고

We have experienced a case of right side chylothorax following closed chest injury. A 35-year-old man in his car was accidentally collided against obstacles on September 19, 1986 resulting in a contusion on right anterior chest wall. The only complaint noted on admission was right chest pain. Chest X-ray showed near total radiopaque density of right thorax. Conservative treatment of closed tube thoracostomy at right pleural cavity through midaxillary 7th intercostal space had been continued for 25 days without improvement. Chyle outflow through the chest tube was averaging 1,700cc per day. Oversewing of the thoracic duct and pleura by silk and pledgetted prolene sutures were done. There was no complication and recurrence till postoperative 20 days. Chylothorax following closed chest injury was never reported in this country, and will be a interesting clinical case report.