Open AccessPseudochylothorax in pleural effusion due to coronary artery bypass surgery
Author(s) -
GarciaPachon E.,
Fernandez L.C.,
LopezAzorin F.,
PadillaNavas I
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.021
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1399-3003
pISSN - 0903-1936
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-3003.1999.13f38.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphedema , chyle , artery , pleural effusion , pericardial effusion , coronary artery bypass surgery , surgery , chylothorax , elephantiasis , radiology , cardiology , cancer , complication , breast cancer , immunology , helminths , filariasis
This study describes a 64‐yr‐old male with a chronic left pleural effusion following a coronary artery bypass 3 yrs earlier. On thoracocentesis, turbid fluid was obtained with crystals of cholesterol on microscopic examination, establishing the diagnosis of pseudochylothorax. The pleural fluid cholesterol level was 207 mg·dL ‐1 (5.36 mmol·L ‐1 ). This is the first report of pseudochylothorax in a chronic pleural effusion due to coronary artery bypass surgery.