ABSTRACT

Development of chylothorax after thoracic surgery is rare; however, it is a serious complication and is generally medically treated. In cases where medical treatment is unsuccessful, due to the course and anatomical feature of the ductus thoracicus, right supradiaphragmatic mass ligation is the method used in the surgical treatment of chylothorax generally. We present a case of 73-year-old female patient, VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery) left upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection were performed due to lung malignancy and during the postoperative follow-up, left chylothorax developed. Left- sided thoracoscopic ductus ligation was performed no need of the second incision for right mass ligation. In the case of iatrogenic chylothorax in the left hemithorax, the left thoracoscopic approach should always be kept in mind.