An uncommon case of late-onset chylothorax in blunt thoracic trauma in the emergency department

Blunt chest trauma is a rare cause of chylothorax because thoracic duct is well protected by the spine posteriorly and mediastinal contents anteriorly. Ribs or vertebral fractures are often associated but isolated chylothorax has been described. Thoracic duct injury may be due to stretching over the spine, or to shearing of the duct by the right crus of the diaphragm. Chylothorax can be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality and early diagnosis is of paramount importance in order to adequate and prompt therapy. Chilothorax is well distinguishable in CT scan but the diagnosis must be confirmed by analysis of the pleural fluid. The optimal treatment for traumatic chylothorax is unclear and a challenging clinical problem. In this article, we describe the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, and successful medical treatment of a patient with post traumatic chylothorax diagnosed in an emergency setting.