Surgical management of chylothorax.

We believe that proximal thoracic duct ligation is a relatively simple yet conclusive means of control of chylothorax. One should still attempt conservative management of the lesion with aspiration therapy, tube thorocostomy and the adminstration of medium length triglyceride fatty acid diets. However, if this is not successful within two to three weeks, one should not wait for disastrous nutritional degeneration before recommending this form of surgical intervention.