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OBJECTIVE To review the experience of iatrogenic chylothorax after pulmcnary resections for lung cancer and to evaluate our treatment strategy. METHODS From July 1997 through December 2003, a total of 1,546 patients underwent pulmonary resection (at least lobectomy) and systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer in our division. Sixteen patients had a postoperative chylothorax complication. All of these patients in this study were conservatively treated (closed drainage) with complete oral intake cessation and total parenteral nutrition.RESULTS All patients had their condition cured with conservative treatment. The duration of the treatment was 6-21 days. The patients were given normal diet for a mean of 9.8 days after chylothorax diagnosis.CONCLUSION If the correct treatment strategy is selected, most cases of chylothorax after pulmonary resection with systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection can be cured with a conservative strategy.