Isolated massive chylopericardium. Complication of open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement.

Chylopericardium following open-heart surgery for aortic valve replacement in a 53-year-old woman is described. Five weeks after surgery, the chylous pericardial effusion was detected when the patient developed recurrent chest pain and cardiomegaly. Treatment included drainage of the fluid and partial pericardiectomy. No recurrence of the chylopericardium was observed in this patient up to 14 months after surgery.