Right Chylothorax Complicating Videothoracoscopic Management Of Recurrent Pneumothorax

Chylothorax is a rare complication occurring in 0.5% to 2.5% of major thoracic procedures. The main mechanism usually consists of a direct lesion of the thoracic duct, although its tributaries may also be injured, particularly during mediastinal lymphadenectomy. We report the first case of chylothorax following right video-assisted pleurectomy for recurrent pneumothorax in a 22-year-old Caucasian man. Even though this complication remains extremely rare, in the case of pleurectomy delimitation performed by coagulating hook, the operator should ensure that only the parietal pleura was coagulated, without involvement of the fatty intercostal tissue.