title: A new successful therapy for fetal chylothorax by intrapleural injection of maternal blood.
abstract: We present two cases of fetal chylothorax and hydrops diagnosed at 20 weeks' gestation, both of which underwent successful intrauterine treatment. In Case 1, a transient, near total resolution began 2 weeks after an iatrogenic hemothorax following a second thoracocentesis performed at 24 + 6 weeks. Because of pleural fluid reaccumulation, a Cesarean section was performed at 36 weeks. The 3805-g female neonate was admitted to neonatal intensive care but was discharged 50 days later in a healthy condition. In Case 2, resolution occurred after a third thoracocentesis and a second pleural injection of maternal blood, performed at 26 weeks. A 2660-g female neonate was delivered vaginally at 38 weeks. The infant remained asymptomatic and was discharged aged 4 days. Our experience suggests a possible useful role of intrapleural blood injection for the treatment of fetal chylothorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. jparra@hsp.santpau.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amenedo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muñiz-Díaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ormo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simó
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Senosiain
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moliner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guinovart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001769:Blood; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D019152:Paracentesis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography