Chylothorax en chylopericard

- Three patients with chylothorax and one with chylopericardium occasioned this review of the pathogenesis, causes, diagnosis and treatment of chyle effusions. Chyle infection existed in one patient with congenital anomalies of the lymphatics and in one with impairment of lymphatic function due to radiotherapy. In both, treatment consisted in drainage, lavage, antibiotics and a diet low in long-chain fatty acids. The other two patients were treated conservatively, with good results.

Although the chylomicrons in the chyle of these patients were demonstrated by means of the centrifugation method, quantitative assay of the triglyceride content is the best method of distinguishing between chyle and pseudochyle.