Isolated primary chylopericardium: A case report

• Main Authors: Pongprot Y., Cheuratanapong S., Sittiwangkul R., Silvilairat S., Woragidpoonpol S., Phornphutkul C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0038123182&partnerID=40&md5=ccf30a435239892fd80e2b59398879de; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12757082; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/3327
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Isolated primary chylopericardium is a rare entity with an obscure etiology. The authors report a 10-week-old male infant presenting with tachypnea and enlarged cardiac silhouette. Echocardiography revealed a large pericardial effusion. A specific diagnosis of chylopericardium was made by pericardiocentesis and analysis of the fluid. Despite the pericardial tube drainage and medium-chain triglyceride diet, pericardial effusion reaccumulated. Ligation of the thoracic duct with the establishment of a pleuropericardial window was performed through a left thoracotomy. Follow-up echocardiograms have shown no reaccumulation of the pericardial fluid.