Chylopericardium--a rare complication after ventricular septal defect repair.

Chylopericardium is a rare complication of cardiac surgery. It may be caused by a lesion in the thoracic duct or its tributaries or by thrombosis in the confluence of the jugular and left subclavian veins, obstructing the drainage of the thoracic duct. The treatment may be conservative or surgical, depending on the duration and on the volume of the effusion. We report the case of a 1 1/2 year-old male, who, in the late postoperative period of VSD repair, was hospitalized with low-grade fever and breathlessness for one week due to the presence of chylopericardium. The clinical findings and treatment performed are discussed.