1993 Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 803-808
A 45-year-old woman underwent anterior spinal fusion of the upper lumbar vertebrae (Th12 -L3) for burst fracture of the first lumbar vertebra in Kyoto University Hospital on August 21, 1992. The early postoperative course was uneventful, but left pleural effusion increased starting 2 weeks after operation. She visited our outpatient clinic on September 20. White milky effusion was aspirated by thoracentesis, and a diagnosis of chylothorax was made. She underwent intravenous hyperalimentation and chest drainage for 4 weeks, but the chylothorax persisted. Surgery was performed on Octorber 30, 1982. The top of the anterior spinal fusion device was seen beside the 11th thoracic vertebra, and serous effusion ran down along the device. This was wrapped by the diaphragm with 20 interrupted sutures of 3-0 Vicryl with figrin glue. Chylothorax recurred when oral feeding started, so IVH was resumed for 3 weeks, and pleurodesis was performed twice. Chylothorax after spinal surgery is rare. This report describes the successful surgical treatment of a patient with chylothorax after anterior spinal fusion.
