Chylothorax following coronary bypass grafting: treatment by talc pleurodesis

Chylothorax after myocardial revascularization is a rare but serious complication. There is as yet no definitive treatment. We report a case in which chylothorax was diagnosed on the 3rd postoperative day. Conservative management with dietary restriction to medium-chain triglyceride led to reduction of chyle leakage from 300 to 400 mL/day to 50 to 60 mL/day 3 days later. However, the leak persisted until talc pleurodesis was performed.