Chylothorax and chylopericardial tamponade in a hemodialysis patient with catheter-induced superior vena cava stenosis

Abstract

Chylothorax and chylopericardium refer to the presence of milky, triglyceride-rich chylous fluid in the thoracic and pericardial spaces, respectively. Both conditions are extremely uncommon in end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis. We report the first known case of combined chylothorax and chylous pericardial tamponade in a dialysis patient associated with catheter-induced superior vena cava (SVC) stenosis. A successful outcome was achieved with drainage of both chylous effusions in combination with angioplasty of the SVC stenosis.