Postoperative Chylothorax: Differences Between Patients Who Received Median Sternotomy or Lateral Thoracotomy for Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

The majority of pediatric patients who develop chylothorax after cardiac surgery can be successfully managed by medical treatment only. To avoid complications in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery, chylothorax should be suspected for patients with unexplainable, prolonged, and abundant pleural effusion.