Somatostatin: a new therapeutic option for the treatment of chylothorax.
BACKGROUND
The standard treatment of chylothorax in pediatric intensive care today includes conservative therapy with fat-free nutrition, total parenteral nutrition and, if this is not successful, operative treatment (pleurodesis, ligation of the duct, pleuroperitoneal shunt).


METHODS
We describe four patients who were not in a suitable condition for operative treatment and who were treated with continuous infusion of somatostatin.


RESULTS
In three patients, chylothorax ceased with the continuous somatostatin infusion without side effects. One patient was treated without success.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatostatin is a therapeutic option for treatment of chylothorax and could reduce surgical intervention and hospitalization time, as well as allow earlier enteral feeding.
Buettiker
V
V
Department of Neonatology and Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. vera.buettiker@kispi.unizh.ch
Hug
M I
MI
Burger
R
R
Baenziger
O
O
D002916:Chylothorax / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006728:Hormones; D013004:Somatostatin