Thoracic duct ligation as treatment of chylothorax due to vena cava superior thrombosis.

Thrombosis is a well known complication of subclavian vein catheterization. As collateral circulation develops, consequences are usually limited to the fact that this vein is no longer usable as an access route. However, one of the possible complications of a superior vena cava thrombosis is the development of a chylothorax. We describe an infant developing a chylothorax caused by a SVC thrombosis after subclavian vein catheterization for parenteral nutrition. The chylothorax did not resolve following conservative management, but was successfully treated by surgical ligation of the thoracic duct.