Idiopathic Chylothorax in dogs. Report of a clinical case

Abstract

The chyle is the term used to refer to lymphatic fluid of intestinal origin. It consists of lymph and emulsified fats; it circulates through the lymphatic vessels and passes into the venous system through the thoracic duct. The chylothorax is the accumulation of chyle in the pleural space, caused by any pathological process that increases the systemic venous pressure, such as trauma, mediastinal tumors, heart disease or congenital abnormalities of the thoracic duct. In most cases, the specific cause cannot be ascertained and it is called idiopathic chylothorax. The objective of this paper was to present a clinical case of an American Pitbull Terrier canine patient with idiopathic chylothorax. The dog was referred with restrictive dyspnea and mucous cyanosis. Chest ultrasound showed pleural and pericardial effusion, therefore, pericardiocentesis and thoracocentesis were performed, from which 370 mL of pericardial effusion and 600 mL of pleural effusion were extracted. The dog underwent surgery within 48 hours. The technique consisted of combining a pericardiectomy with an omentalization in order to avoid cardiac tamponade and ensure physiological drainage of the pleural space, increasing the reabsorption of the chyle. It was only necessary to change the chest tube after 48 hours. The dog regained its normal weight during the first month. He is currently ten months old and has no clinical evidence of recurrence.