True about chylothorax:: (A) Left side more common, (B) Clear fluid, (C) Immediate thoracotomy should be done, (D) TOC is excision and ligation of thoracic duct
Answer is D. Chylothorax A chylothorax occurs when the thoracic duct is disrupted and chyle accumulates in the pleural space MC cause of chylothorax: Trauma (most frequently thoracic surgery) More common on right side Treatment Treatment of choice: Chest tube inseion + Administration of octerotide and Medium chain triglycerides An alternative treatment is ligation of the thoracic duct Patients with chylothoraxes should not undergo prolonged tube thoracostomy with chest tube drainage because this will lead to malnutrition and immunologic incompetence.