Thoracic duct injuries after thoracic and cardiac surgical procedures

This report includes 7 patients with thoracic duct injuries following thoracic [5chylothroax], and cardiac operations [2 chylopericardium] over a period of 15 years [5000 operations]. Early recognition and active management helped us to have a total cure with no mortality or complication in such a group of patients. The rational for treatment depends on the anatomy, physiology, the surgical procedure and expected site of injury