Surgical treatment of chylothorax caused by cardiothoracic surgery in children.

Four pediatric cases of chylothorax after cardiothoracic surgery, which were managed surgically, are reviewed retrospectively. All patients underwent right thoracotomy and mass ligation of the right thoracic duct without detecting the true site of leakage. Although 1 patient died from heart failure the day after operation, the other 3 recovered quickly without sequelae. Based on our limited experience, we suggest that right thoracotomy with mass ligation of the right thoracic duct can successfully cure chylothorax on either side, particularly if identification of the site of leakage is considered too risky because of severe adhesion from previous cardiothoracic surgery.