Abstract

PEGO-FERNANDES, Paulo M. et al. Ligation of the thoracic duct for the treatment of chylothorax in heart diseases. Arq. Bras. Cardiol. [online]. 2003, vol.81, n.3, pp. 314-317. ISSN 0066-782X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2003001100011.

In children, chylothorax occurs mainly after cardiac and thoracic surgeries. One of the recommended postsurgery treatments is ligation of the thoracic tract, when all other conservative treatments have failed. We report 4 cases of chylothorax in patients who were successfully treated with this approach, which resulted in a decrease in pleural drainage without recurrent chylothorax.