Postoperative Chylothorax Leading to Chylous Pericardial Tamponade After Right Upper Lobectomy: A Case Study of an Uncommon Condition - Takeaways - MDSpire

Postoperative Chylothorax Leading to Chylous Pericardial Tamponade After Right Upper Lobectomy: A Case Study of an Uncommon Condition

  • By

  • Susanne Boutellier

  • Adrian Zehnder

  • Hans Gelpke

  • Arash Najafi

  • Philipp Karl Buehler

  • Benedikt Florian Scherr

  • December 10, 2025

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    A 72-year-old man developed chylothorax after right upper lobectomy, confirmed by high triglyceride levels in pleural fluid.

  • 2

    Despite conservative treatment, the patient experienced hemodynamic instability and cardiac tamponade due to chylous pericardial effusion.

  • 3

    Urgent pericardiocentesis drained 800 mL of chylous fluid, rapidly stabilizing the patient's hemodynamic status.

  • 4

    Surgical re-thoracotomy was performed to ligate the thoracic duct and create a pericardial window, significantly reducing fluid leakage.

  • 5

    Postoperatively, the patient's condition improved, with drainage decreasing and no recurrence of effusion confirmed by echocardiography.

Original Source(s)

Postoperative Chylothorax Leading to Chylous Pericardial Tamponade After Right Upper Lobectomy: A Case Study of an Uncommon Condition

  • by Susanne Boutellier, Adrian Zehnder, Hans Gelpke, Arash Najafi, Philipp Karl Buehler, Benedikt Florian Scherr

  • December 10, 2025

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