Chylothorax as a Complication of Translumbar Aortography

A recent excellent review by McAfee and Willson³ of all the reported complications of translumbar aortography revealed no thoracic complications of the procedure. For that reason the following case is being reported.

Report of a Case  The patient, a 58-year-old white woman, was first seen in July, 1951, complaining of left upper quadrant abdominal pain of approximately 10 years' duration. Physical examination was essentially negative except for moderate left upper quadrant abdominal tenderness. No masses were palpated in the abdomen. The blood pressure was 130/80. A complete blood count and an urinalysis were normal. The examination of the stool for ova, parasites, and occult blood was negative. Gastric analysis showed no free hydrochloric acid after histamine stimulation. An intravenous pyelogram revealed no defects in the kidneys or ureters. A tentative diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome was made, and the patient was placed on a therapeutic program to combat it.