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Case Reports
. 2020 May 21:28:100308.
doi: 10.1016/j.tcr.2020.100308. eCollection 2020 Aug.

Chylothorax caused by blunt trauma: Case review and management proposal

Brandon T Bacon  1   2 , Wayne Mashas  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Chylothorax caused by blunt trauma: Case review and management proposal

Brandon T Bacon et al. Trauma Case Rep. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Chylothorax is a potentially devastating complication of lymphatic trauma of the thorax. To date, no recommendations have provided decision making support for prompt definitive treatment. We present a 53 year old male involved in a motor vehicle collision sustaining 9 left rib fractures with flail segments. He was treated non-operatively with a chest tube and no fat diet. A Case report review was performed and a proposed guideline for managing blunt trauma chylothorax in adult patients was developed. In low-output chylothorax, effective initial treatment begins with a no fat diet and chest tube. We propose that a low output leak be defined as <500 mL of initial output or <500 mL/day and can be managed non-operatively in nearly 100% of patients. High output injuries of >1000 mL of initial output will require surgical intervention and should be considered for prompt definitive care.

Keywords: Blunt force trauma; Chest trauma; Chest tube; Chylothorax.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no disclosures regarding financial support or conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Initial chest radiograph.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CT scan of rib fractures.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Three month follow up chest radiograph.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Proposal of treatment algorithm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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