Gorham disease: an intraoperative case study.

Gorham disease is a rare chronic disorder that is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of thin-walled capillaries and small lymphatic vessels that results in the massive osteolysis of adjacent bone. Clinical manifestations are determined by the area of involvement, which may include the chest and ribs. The case presented involves a 47-year-old man with Gorham disease complicated by unilateral chylothorax who was treated with thoracic duct ligation. The anesthetic implications associated with Gorham disease are discussed, and nonsurgical primary and adjunctive treatments for chylothorax are summarized.