Author/Authors :
Can, E Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi - Yenidoğan Kliniği, Turkey , Bülbül, A Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi - Yenidoğan Kliniği, Turkey , Uslu, S Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi - Yenidoğan Kliniği, Turkey , Cömert, S Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi - Yenidoğan Kliniği, Turkey , Bolat, F Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi - Yenidoğan Kliniği, Turkey , Nuhoğlu, A Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi - Yenidoğan Kliniği, Turkey
Abstract :
Congenital chylothorax is a rare cause of pleural effusion in the newborn infant. It occurs twice as often in males, and the incidence has been reported as 1/10,000-15,000. There is controversy about the etiology of congenital chylothorax. The diagnosis can be made after analysis of the pleural fluid drained by thoracentesis or chest tube placement. The optimal treatment of congenital chylothorax has not been defined. Treatment is mainly conservative.In cases of chylothorax, feeding with formulas containing medium-chain fatty acids may help treatment of pleural effusions by enhancing intestinal lymph flow. Octreotide treatment and surgery are other options in refractory cases.However in many cases, resolution of the chylothorax occurs spontaneously with time. Repeated thoracenteses and mechanical ventilation may be needed in cases with respiratory distress. Chest tube drainage may be performed in persistent cases. The prognosis of congenital chylothorax is good but in cases of hydrops fetalis, mortality is increased. In this case report we present a neonate with congenital chylothorax without any specific etiology.
