A staged management of prolonged chylothorax in a patient with yellow nail syndrome

Abstract

Spontaneous chylothorax remains an unusual condition with diverse aetiologies and non-unified management strategies. Owing to the rarity of the condition, the evidence of management remains from case reports and limited retrospective studies. This case represents a difficult-to-manage chylothorax secondary to yellow nail syndrome with initial failure of both surgical and conservative treatment methods. Pleurovenous shunting represents a surgical management approach allowing the patient to live with and control an ongoing chyle leak.