Management of Aortic Replacement-Induced Chylothorax by Lipiodol Lymphography

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Chylothorax is a rare but serious complication of thoracic aortic surgery, leading to malnutrition, respiratory insufficiency, and prolonged hospital stay. In this article, we describe the successful treatment of a case of intractable chylothorax by lipiodol lymphography. The patient was a 39-year-old man who underwent descending aortic replacement for a remaining dissected aneurysm after total arch replacement. Chylothorax developed postoperatively. After complete oral intake cessation, total parenteral nutrition, and plasmatic factor XIII administration, lipiodol lymphography detected the chyle leakage location and subsequently decreased pleural effusion. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on postoperative day 30 without any complications.