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Tag Pseudochylothorax
CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Chylothorax

Chylothorax occurs when chyle from the thoracic duct empties into the pleural space. Chyle is a milky white fluid with a high concentration of triglycerides, chylomicrons, and white blood cells. Pseudochylothorax is pleural fluid that mimics true chylous pleural effusion in appearance but lacks the biochemical criteria for chylothorax; usually due to a longstanding pleural effusion