Bilateral chylothorax following neck dissection.
BACKGROUND: Bilateral chylothorax, as a complication of neck dissection, is extremely rare, and was first described in 1907. Ten cases are reported in the literature. METHODS: This presentation illustrates an additional case of bilateral chylothorax occurring after neck dissection. Anatomic and physiologic considerations are presented and possible mechanisms of pathogenesis are discussed. RESULTS: Chylothorax has two major complications: respiratory and metabolic. The modern concepts of treatment are summarized. CONCLUSIONS: After neck dissection, the clinician should suspect chylothorax if the patient had respiratory embarrassment and an abnormal chest x-ray postoperatively.
Adult↗