J Korean Soc Neonatol.  1999 Nov;6(2):253-257.

A case of Idiopathic Neonatal Chylothorax Treated with Thoracostomy and Medium Chain Triglyceride - Containing Diet

• Cha KD
• Cho YJ
• Lee SL

Abstract

Chylothorax is the most common cause of pleural effusion in the neonatal period and is defined as an effusion of lymph in the pleural cavity. We report a case of chylothorax in a 13-day-old male who was admitted due to respiratory difficulty. Chest AP showed pleural effusion of the left lung and milky yellow fluid was aspirated via thoracentesis upon which laboratory and lipoprotein electrophoresis of pleural fluid revealed findings compatible with that of chylothorax. Due to reaccumulation of chyle after daily thoracentesis, chest tube was inserted at the 4th hospital day, and MCT containing diet was given. He was discharged on the 21st hospital day in good health, and revealed no recurrence for 3 months during outpatient follow up visits.

Keyword

Idiopathic chylothorax; Thoracostomy; Neonate; MCT containing diet

MeSH Terms

Chest Tubes
Chyle
Chylothorax*
Diet*
Electrophoresis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Lipoproteins
Lung
Male
Outpatients
Pleural Cavity
Pleural Effusion
Recurrence
Thoracostomy*
Thorax
Triglycerides*
Lipoproteins