title: Can octreotide be the first line treatment for chylothorax?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chylothorax is a rare but serious condition with a high rate of morbidity that may lead to death. It may be spontaneous or a complication of cardiac surgery. Treatment of this potentially harmful condition is not well established and may comprise dietary interventions. In order to avoid surgery, somatostatin and octreotide have been recently suggested as new modalities for the treatment of chylothorax.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy of octreotide for the treatment of chylothorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors report two cases of chylothorax successfully treated with intravenous infusion of octreotide as an adjunct to conventional treatment. Furthermore, the authors report their last case who were treated successfully with octreotide as the first line drug without diet modification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that octreotide is effective, noninvasive and safe. It can be used as an optional or first line treatment for chylothorax.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascularthoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sonthakit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leelahanon
authors.forename: Wattanasak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Petlek
authors.forename: Wirachai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sontimuang
authors.forename: Pakpoom
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pochanart
authors.forename: Varaporn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tepakorn
authors.forename: Satit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruangpeg
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D015282:Octreotide