Factors involved in chylothorax following repair of congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia.

Chylothorax after repair of congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia has only been reported four times. We add a fifth case and have analyzed these five cases. In all five, the hernia was left sided and a sac was present that was excised. The chylothorax was always left sided. Chylous ascites did not occur. All cases responded to continuous chest drainage without surgical intervention on the thoracic duct or cysterna chyli. All five cases survived.