A case of acute respiratory distress syndrome due to lymphography with Lipiodol for chylothorax after esophagectomy

Background Lymphography with Lipiodol is useful for chylothorax. There were many slight complications, but reports of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after lymphography were few. Case presentation A 75-year-old man with esophageal cancer developed chylothorax after esophagectomy. Conservative treatment was ineffective, and he underwent lymphography with 8.5 mL of Lipiodol. He developed a high fever soon after lymphography, followed by severe ARDS requiring artificial respiration 5 days later. He recovered from ARDS but subsequently developed pulmonary fibrosis and was discharged with domiciliary oxygen therapy 3 months later. Conclusion Although ARDS is a rare complication of lymphography with Lipiodol, this procedure should be applied carefully in patients with chylothorax.