[Idiopathic chylothorax successfully treated by continuous positive pressure ventilation].

A 21-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of pleural effusion in both lungs. The diagnosis was chylous pleural effusion. Because the effusion was resistant to conservative therapy, we performed thoracic duct resection surgery at locations in the the neck and mediastinum. However, the amount of pleural effusion did not decrease. For improved drainage, a right pleuroperitoneal shunt tube was implanted but it was occluded in 14 days. Pneumonia and respiratory failure then developed. The patient was placed on mechanical ventilation with continuous positive pressure. After this treatment, the amount of pleural effusion decreased and the patient was weaned from ventilation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of idiopathic chylothorax which in both lungs to be successfully treated by continuous positive pressure ventilation.