Posttraumatic chylous ascites in a child: recognition and management of an unusual condition.

Chylous ascites is an extremely rare and often unrecognized complication of abdominal trauma in children. The management of this condition has traditionally been nonsurgical, but the success rate with nonoperative treatment is not always satisfactory. A case of posttraumatic chylous ascites in an abused toddler is presented, with emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of this rare disorder.