Objectives: To understand and grasp the diagnosis and treatment of chylothorax caused by variou reasons.
Method: The treatment results of 31 cases of chylothorax in PUMC hospital from 1963 approximately 1997 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Among 31 cases, 18 underwent surgery, 14 of 18 were cured, 2 died. In the 13 treated conservatively, 2 were cured, 3 died. Eleven cases were congenital, iatrogenic and traumatic chylothorax, 8 of them received surgical treatment and 6 of 8 were cured. The spontaneous chylothorax of unknown cause were 10 cases, 7 were treated by surgery and 6 were cured.
Conclusion: Surgical intervention should be aggressively recommended for the traumatic, congenital, and iatrogenic chylothorx. The definite reason must be found out for the spontaneous chylothorax, corresponding management will be given according to the reason. Surgical ligation of the thoracic duct will contribute good result for the chylothorax of unknown cause, but combination of multiple treatment measures will be necessary for a successful management.