Congenital chylothorax

Abstract

Introduction Congenital chylothorax (CC) that is defined as the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the plural cavity, and is a rare neonatal disorder. It represents the most common cause of pleural effusion in fetuses and newborns. Purpose The study aimed to perform a systematic review of congenital chylothorax. Material and methods Comprehensive research was performed by searching in PubMed, using the MeSH terms “congenital” and ”chylothorax”. Results A total were included articles published during the years 2015-2020. Congenital chylothorax is rare disease with etiology is unknown in most of the cases but it can be associated with genetic conditions and different syndromes. It usually appears before birth, both as an isolated disorder or in association with hydrops fetalis, negatively affecting the subsequent neonatal outcome. The heterogeneous clinical presentation of CC renders the diagnostic and therapeutic approach difficult to standardize. A adequate visualization of the lymphatic system is complex, especially in small neonates. Both medical and surgical therapeutic strategies are available to treat this condition. Conclusions Early diagnosis and intervention in the prenatal period favor improved postnatal outcome. Postnatal management includes drainage of the pleural fluid, dieta, drug therapy, and rarely surgery. Outcome of the condition depends on the underlying genetic condition and associated malformations.