Intractable Chylothorax Following Mitral Valve Replacement in an Adult

Abstract

Chylothorax after an open-heart surgery has previously been mentioned in the literature. We report this association in a young female post-mitral valve replacement surgery due to abnormal lymphatic channels. Medical management was conducted for 4 weeks. On failure of the conservative treatment, she underwent pleurectomy with suture ligation of the thymic gland remnants and pericardium for the chylothorax, which resolved following the redo surgery. This rare incidental variation in lymphatic drainage was responsible for refractory chylothorax, which otherwise could have been managed medically.

Keywords

• Chylothorax
• lymphangiography
• mitral valve replacement
• thoracic duct