Thoracic duct injury

Thoracic duct injury is caused by penetrating injury or blunt trauma to the chest. The thoracic duct is located outside the posterior thoracic pleura. If the pleura ruptures at the same time, the chylous fluid directly flows into the pleural cavity to form the chylous chest. Outside the pleura, it gradually increases, the pressure increases, the pleura is swollen, and it overflows into the chest cavity to form chylothorax. The true incidence of traumatic chylothorax may be higher than reported, as many cases with small amounts of chyle are difficult to detect and are absorbed long before the diagnosis is established.