Late-onset chylothorax after a pneumonectomy for lung cancer: a case report

ABSTRACT

Chylothorax is a relatively rare complication associated with thoracic surgery. It tends to occur in the early postoperative period. The prevalence ranges from 1 - 2%, and without treatment, the mortality rate is around 50%. Chylothorax after a pulmonary resection is usually diagnosed within three days after surgery. Only a few cases of delayed diagnosis have been reported in literature until now and almost all of them have been reported to occur within 15 days of surgery. Early recognition and prompt treatment are essential. We report a case of delayed onset chylothorax after pneumonectomy with literature review