[Use of somatostatin in five neonates with chylothorax].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The addition of somatostatin to the conventional treatment of neonatal chylothorax has been described in isolated cases.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the results obtained in a series of five patients with neonatal chylothorax treated with somatostatin.

PATIENTS:

Five neonates (gestational age range: 29-39 weeks) diagnosed with chylothorax of various etiologies were included. Chylothorax was congenital in two neonates, secondary to congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair in two neonates and secondary to thrombosis in the superior vein cava in one neonate. All the neonates were started on conservative therapy and intravenous somatostatin in distinct doses ranging from a bolus of 2 microg/kg/12 h to continuous perfusion at 10 microg/kg/h.

RESULTS:

In all patients the chylous drainage was stopped. No adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Somatostatin can be a safe and effective option in the treatment of both primary and secondary neonatal chylothorax refractory to conservative treatment.

• Authors: M González Santacruz, J L Tarazona Fargueta, P Muñoz Alvarez, J Mira Navarro, B Jiménez Cobo
• Journal: Anales de pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003) (An Pediatr (Barc)) Vol. 63 Issue 3 Pg. 244-8 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 1695-4033 [Print] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Tratamiento con somatostatina en cinco recién nacidos con quilotórax de diferentes etiologías.
• PMID: 16219278 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Somatostatin

Topics

• Chylothorax (drug therapy, etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Premature, Diseases (drug therapy)
• Male
• Somatostatin (therapeutic use)