A CASE of traumatic chylothorax is thought to be of sufficient interest to report and briefly discuss, inasmuch as it exemplifies some typical features of the disease and some of the factors which may cause a delay in diagnosis. The recent change in concept of treatment also justifies a brief review.
REPORT OF A CASE
A white man aged 34 years was injured in an automobile accident on June 25, 1951. He received fractures of the left 8th, 9th, and 10th ribs and the left transverse processes of the second and third lumbar vertebrae. He made satisfactory progress for seven days, when he suddenly became extremely short of breath, broke out in a cold clammy sweat, and complained of pain under the right costal margin. It was at this time that I first saw him. His pulse was rapid and weak, and his blood pressure was 90/60. His abdomen was