Abstract
A 9-year-old spayed female cat presented with one month history of progressive dyspnea. The idiopathic chylothorax was diagnosed and the chest tube was placed under general anesthesia. The thoracic cavity was continuously aspirated using a low negative pressure continuous suction device. The exploratory thoracotomy performed on the 9th day revealed that the entire pleura was severe fibrosing pleuritis, and the lung lobes were atelectasis to various degrees. The subtotal pericardectomy, omentalization, chest tube and PEG tube placement were performed. The continuous low negative pressure suction of the thoracic cavity was maintained postoperatively. After hospital discharge, the owner continued the manual aspiration of the pleural effusion through the chest tube three times a day by a 20 ml syringe. The pleural effusion gradually ceased, and chest tubes were removed on the 90th day. No pleural effusion has recurred and full inflation of the lung lobes have maintained 7 months postoperatively to present. Present case suggested that the atelectactic lungs caused by the fibrosing pleuritis due to idiopathic chylothorax can be treated successfully with the pericardectomy, omentalization and long term negative pressure care.
