Congenital Chylothorax

Although pleural effusion is a rare cause of respiratory distress in newborns, being familiar with this disease is very important because of the generally favorable prognosis when the diagnosis is done early and therapy is prompt. We report a case of a full-term baby diagnosed with respiratory distr...

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Main Authors: Saad Lahmiti, Jamila Elhoudzi, Salwa Baki, Abdelmounaim Aboussad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2009-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.62
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author Saad Lahmiti
Jamila Elhoudzi
Salwa Baki
Abdelmounaim Aboussad
author_facet Saad Lahmiti
Jamila Elhoudzi
Salwa Baki
Abdelmounaim Aboussad
author_sort Saad Lahmiti
collection DOAJ
description Although pleural effusion is a rare cause of respiratory distress in newborns, being familiar with this disease is very important because of the generally favorable prognosis when the diagnosis is done early and therapy is prompt. We report a case of a full-term baby diagnosed with respiratory distress after 1 week of life. An X-ray of his chest showed a left pleural effusion. Moreover, a thoracentesis combined with a biochemical study of the pleural fluid confirmed the diagnosis of chylothorax. In our case, the conservative therapy was successful. The baby was followed up for a period of 6 months, with no evidence of recurrence. We have concluded, therefore, that conservative management should be the first line of treatment in chylothorax cases. If it does not work, a surgical approach might be considered.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1537-744X
language English
publishDate 2009-01-01
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record_format Article
series The Scientific World Journal
spelling doaj-art-488769f4baff4128a3404c8b6df4e4e62025-08-20T03:36:01ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2009-01-01943143410.1100/tsw.2009.62Congenital ChylothoraxSaad Lahmiti0Jamila Elhoudzi1Salwa Baki2Abdelmounaim Aboussad3Neonatal Intensive Care Department, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, MoroccoNeonatal Intensive Care Department, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, MoroccoNeonatal Intensive Care Department, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, MoroccoNeonatal Intensive Care Department, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, MoroccoAlthough pleural effusion is a rare cause of respiratory distress in newborns, being familiar with this disease is very important because of the generally favorable prognosis when the diagnosis is done early and therapy is prompt. We report a case of a full-term baby diagnosed with respiratory distress after 1 week of life. An X-ray of his chest showed a left pleural effusion. Moreover, a thoracentesis combined with a biochemical study of the pleural fluid confirmed the diagnosis of chylothorax. In our case, the conservative therapy was successful. The baby was followed up for a period of 6 months, with no evidence of recurrence. We have concluded, therefore, that conservative management should be the first line of treatment in chylothorax cases. If it does not work, a surgical approach might be considered.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.62
spellingShingle Saad Lahmiti
Jamila Elhoudzi
Salwa Baki
Abdelmounaim Aboussad
Congenital Chylothorax
The Scientific World Journal
title Congenital Chylothorax
title_full Congenital Chylothorax
title_fullStr Congenital Chylothorax
title_full_unstemmed Congenital Chylothorax
title_short Congenital Chylothorax
title_sort congenital chylothorax
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.62
work_keys_str_mv AT saadlahmiti congenitalchylothorax
AT jamilaelhoudzi congenitalchylothorax
AT salwabaki congenitalchylothorax
AT abdelmounaimaboussad congenitalchylothorax