title: Tension chylothorax complicating acute malignant airway obstruction.
abstract: Acute upper airway obstruction represents one of the most challenging emergencies in pediatric practice. In particular, a tension chylothorax complicating a malignant airway obstruction is a rare and life-threatening complication. We report a rapidly progressing tension chylothorax associated with a cervical mass in a 10-month-old male infant. To our knowledge, the extension of a cervical mass to the supraclavear region resulting in a compressive chylothorax represents an exceptional event in pediatrics. Early recognition and prompt treatment resulted to be essential to relieve the compression and to avoid end-stage hemodynamic and respiratory function derangement.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, Catholic University Medical School, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piastra
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietrini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marzano
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Attinà
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods