Conservative treatment of post-surgical chylothorax in pediatric patient.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Chylothorax results from damage to the thoracic duct by rupture, laceration, tear or compression. It is a rare pathology of pleural effusion in pediatric age, but frequent as a complication after cardiothoracic surgery. The basis of conservative treatment has been based on: initial drainage, diet modification, use of somatostatin or synthetic analogues such as octreotide, surgery, prevention and management of complications. It was necessary to describe the clinical institutional experience as well as its approach. CLINICAL CASE. A 4-month-old male patient was admitted to the Emergency Area Pediatric Unit of the Carlos Andrade Marín Specialties Hospital on september 13, 2019 with a surgical history of esophageal atresia corrected in the neonatal stage. He went with respiratory distress, chest X-ray that showed right
pleural effusion, diagnostic thoracentesis with outflow of cloudy and milky fluid; a right chest tube was placed. Initial fasting was prescribed, parenteral nutrition for 4 weeks until resolution of the chylothorax was verified. He was discharged in stable condition after 43 days of hospitalization. DISCUSSION. The scientific evidence recorded that the conservative treatment of chylothorax was based on: drainage, initial digestive
rest, parenteral nutrition, qualitative modification of enteral diet and use of octreotide; the same that was applied to the patient of this clinical case with favorable evolution. CONCLUSION. Conservative and multidisciplinary treatment in the approach to chylothorax was successful.