Abstract
A left-sided effusion is an infrequent clinical occurrence compared with bilateral or right-sided effusions. After coronary bypass surgery, a patient presented with dyspnea and an enlarging left pleural effusion erroneously attributed to congestive heart failure and refractory to medical management. Thoracentesis generated a clinical surprise, allowed specific therapy, and produced evidence for a rarely reported complication of coronary artery bypass grafting. The management of chylothorax and the differential diagnosis of left-sided pleural effusions are reviewed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | Journal of Family Practice |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 6 |
State | Published - Dec 1 1997 |
Keywords
- Chylothorax
- Coronary artery bypass
- Pleural effusion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Family Practice