Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Ligation of the Thoracic Duct in a Patient with Traumatic Chylothorax

Non-surgical traumatic chylothorax following blunt chest trauma is rare, with only a few cases having been reported. In general, conservative treatment measures are recommended as initial management of traumatic chylothorax; these include closed thoracostomy, dietary restriction, and parenteral nutrition. There are few reports of surgery for traumatic chylothorax. We report our experience with thoracic duct ligation using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in a patient with chylothorax following blunt chest injury with associated fractures of the thoracic spine. [ J Trauma Inj 2016; 29: 89-92 ]