Congenital chylothorax in a late preterm infant and successful treatment with octreotide

Octreotide efficacy and safety in children with hyperinsulinism: evidence from two Chinese centers

Octreotide is recommended as a second-line treatment for patients with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), especially for those who do not respond to diazoxide or surgical intervention. Studies on the adverse effects of octreotide in large cohorts are still scarce. We evaluated the safety of octreotide in CHI patients by reviewing cases from the two largest centres in China that specialize in the management of this condition. Our study analysed adverse events in 122 CHI patients on octreotide, with a 93% success rate for the therapy alone. The mean maximum dose of octreotide was 13.1 ± 6.5 µg/kg/day, with no difference in required doses between diffuse and focal lesion patients. Common side effects were hepatobiliary injuries (20.5%), gastrointestinal symptoms (31.1%), and transient hyperglycaemia (49.2%), with one case of necrotizing enterocolitis. Adverse event rates increased in patients treated with intermediate octreotide dose to those treated with higher doses, rising from 58% at doses of 5-10 µg/kg/day to 100% at doses exceeding 20 µg/kg/day. Patients experiencing adverse events received significantly higher doses.

CONCLUSION

Octreotide effectively maintained blood glucose levels in diazoxide-unresponsive CHI patients without serious adverse effects, across all subtypes. Our study suggests that intermediate octreotide dosing is associated with a lower incidence of adverse events. We recommend close monitoring of patients receiving octreotide, especially during the initiation phase and when higher doses are administered.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Octreotide is a commonly used second line treatment for patients with congenital hyperinsulinism. • The administration of octreotide is frequently associated with gastrointestinal adverse events.

WHAT IS NEW

• Our study indicates that octreotide is used without serious adverse effects to maintain blood glucose levels in infants with congenital hyperinsulinism who are otherwise in good health. • The incidence of adverse events in patients treated with octreotide is dose-dependent.

Congenital Chylothorax of the Newborn: A Systematic Analysis of Published Cases between 1990 and 2018

BACKGROUND

Congenital chylothorax (CCT) of the newborn is a rare entity but the most common cause of pleural effusion in this age-group. We aimed to find the optimal treatment strategy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A PubMed search was performed according to the PRISMA criteria. All cases were analyzed according to prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal treatment modalities and follow-ups.

RESULTS

We identified 753 cases from 157 studies published between 1990 and 2018. The all-cause mortality rate was 28%. Prematurity was present in 71%, male gender dominated 57%, mean gestational age was 34 weeks, and birth weight was 2,654 g. Seventy-nine percent of newborns had bilateral CCT, the most common associated congenital anomalies with CCT were pulmonary lymphangiectasia and pulmonary hypoplasia, and the most common chromosomal aberrations were Down, Noonan, and Turner syndromes, respectively. Mechanical ventilation was reported in 381 cases for mean 17 (range 1-120) days; pleural punctuations and drainages were performed in 32% and 64%, respectively. Forty-four percent received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for mean 21 days, 46% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet for mean 37 days, 20% octreotide, and 3% somatostatin; chemical pleurodesis was performed in 116 cases, and surgery was reported in 48 cases with a success rate of 69%. In 462 cases (68%), complete restitution was reported; in 34 of 44 cases (77%), intrauterine intervention was carried out.

CONCLUSION

Respiratory support, pleural drainages, TPN, and MCT diet as octreotide remain to be the cornerstones of CCT management. Pleurodesis with OK-432 done prenatally and povidone-iodine postnatally might be discussed for use in life-threatening CCT.

Congenital Chylothorax: Common and Uncommon Findings in an Infant with Chylous Effusions

Congenital chylothorax is defined as an abnormal accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space. It is a rare condition in the neonate that causes significant respiratory, nutritional, and immunologic problems resulting in a high mortality rate. Presented here is a case of congenital bilateral chylothorax in a preterm infant. Fetal ultrasound at 33 weeks' gestation showed polyhydramnios, bilateral pleural effusions, ascites, and subcutaneous edema. Fetal pleuracentesis was done on the right side with 118 mL of fluid aspirated. This article addresses the management of this difficult disease process, complications, and implications for research of controversial therapies.

Propranolol for the Treatment of Lymphatic Malformations in a Neonate - A Case Report and Review of Literature

Lymphatic malformations in neonates often manifest as a chylothorax, and although rare, morbidity and mortality can be significant. First-line treatment with medium-chain triglyceride-enriched formulas, or enteric rest with total parenteral nutrition, are not always successful. We describe the case of a premature neonate with trisomy 21 who presented with bilateral pleural effusions and a pericardial effusion that worsened with the initiation of enteral nutrition. Clinical improvement was not seen until the initiation of treatment with oral propranolol at a maximum dosage of 0.5 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours with extubation 8 days after propranolol initiation. Two case reports have described the use of propranolol in similar patients receiving 2 mg/kg/day; however, our experience is the first to report treatment success at a much lower dose. A review of the literature for alternative medication treatments uncovered numerous case reports and series documenting variable results with incongruent definitions of treatment success in a diverse patient population. The rarity of this disease state makes accrual of patients difficult and more robust treatment data unlikely. Therefore, selection of the optimal adjunctive treatment must be based on individual patient and disease state characteristics as well as safety and efficacy profile of the medication.

A rare case of congenital chylothorax in a Palestinian neonate

Congenital chylothorax (CCT) is a rare condition which is characterized by an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space and exposes the newborn to respiratory distress and losing of proteins, coagulation factors and immunoglobulins. These cases are liable to have sepsis and high mortality rate. We report a case of a female fetus in Gaza delivered at 36 weeks gestational age diagnosed with CCT. The antenatal ultrasonography showed right sided significant pleural effusion and at birth; she had severe respiratory distress. The baby was intubated at birth and right-sided chest tube drain inserted to drain the pleural fluid which was chylus. The case responded partially to intravenous (IV) octreotide and sildenafil. Chylus stopped completely after 2 days of treatment with octreotide and medium chains triglyceride (MCT) oil-based formula feeding. Conclusion: A female newborn diagnosed with right-sided pleural effusion by antenatal scan was confirmed to have congenital chylothorax postnataly. The infant responded to IV octreotide and MCT based formula feeding.

Octreotide for congenital and acquired chylothorax in newborns: A systematic review

AIM

Chylothorax is a rare but life-threatening condition in newborns. Octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, is widely used as a therapeutic option in neonates with congenital and acquired chylothorax, but its therapeutic role has not been clarified yet.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review to assess the efficacy and safety of octreotide in the treatment of congenital and acquired chylothorax in newborns. Comprehensive research, updated till 31 October 2017, was performed by searching in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases using the MeSH terms 'octreotide' and 'chylothorax'. Both term and preterm newborns with congenital or acquired chylothorax treated with octreotide within the 30th day of life were included. Octreotide treatment was considered effective if a progressive reduction/ceasing in drained chylous effusion occurred.

RESULTS

A total of 39 articles were included. Octreotide was effective in 47% of patients, with a slight but not significant difference between congenital (30/57; 53.3%) and acquired (9/27; 33.3%) chylothorax (P = 0.10). Marked variation in octreotide regimen was observed. The most common therapeutic scheme was intravenous infusion at a starting dose of 1 μg/kg/h, gradually increasing to 10 μg/kg/h according to the therapeutic response. Side effects were reported in 12 of 84 patients (14.3%). Only case reports were included in this review due to the lack of randomised controlled trials.

CONCLUSION

Octreotide is a relatively effective and safe treatment option in neonates with chylothorax, especially for the congenital forms.

Successful management of extremely high-output refractory congenital chylothorax with chemical pleurodesis using 4% povidone-iodine and propranolol: a case report

First‐line therapy for congenital chylothorax is conservative treatment. However, surgical intervention or chemical pleurodesis is required for refractory cases. With all the concerns regarding its complications, povidone–iodin provided a successful management for a high‐output congenital chylothorax. However, renal and thyroid function must be monitored during treatment.

[Role of lymphatic scintigraphy and surgery in congenital chylothorax]

Le chylothorax est défini par l'accumulation du liquide lymphatique dans la cavité pleurale. Il existe 3 catégories distinctes chez le nouveau-né: les chylothorax congénitaux (CC), les chylothorax malformatifs ou syndromiques (CM) et les chylothorax post-opératoires (CO). Bien que rare, le chylothorax représente la cause la plus fréquente des épanchements pleuraux en période néonatale. Son diagnostic positif est facile par analyse du liquide pleural, mais son mécanisme et surtout l'intégrité du canal thoracique et ses collatérales est parfois difficile à préciser. La lymphoscintigraphie représente l'examen de choix dans le diagnostic etipathogénique. Ce moyen de diagnostic peut être couplé, si possible, au SPECT-CT (single photon emission tomography/computed tomography) permettant de donner des renseignements plus précis, notamment sur le plan anatomique. Sa prise en charge repose sur le drainage du liquide pleural, la suppression des graisses alimentaires et la nutrition parentérale. Le recours à la chirurgie est préconisé devant l'échec du traitement médical. Nous rapportons l'observation d'un nouveau-né porteur d'un chylothorax unilatéral, n'ayant pas répondu au traitement médical. La lymphoscintigraphie avait permis de diagnostiquer le mécanisme étiopathogénique et par conséquent, de guider le traitement chirurgical.

Low Dose of Octreotide Can be Helpful in the Management of Congenital Chylothorax

INTRODUCTION

A rare condition in newborns called congenital chylothorax (CC) occurs when lymphatic fluid accumulates within the pleural cavity. Here is a presentation of a birth traumatic case with bilateral pleural effusion successfully treated by octreotide.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 3100-g-term male newborn delivered vaginally from a 33-year-old mother was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with respiratory distress signs. Early chest x-ray (CXR) showed bilateral pleural effusion. The thoracentesis pleural fluid had been drained with these characteristics: glucose: 1.9425 mmol/l, protein: 11 g/l, cholesterol: 1.295 mmol/l, and triglycerides: 3.39 mmol/l. Counts of red blood cells and white blood cells were 10,000 and 2500 per Cu/mm, respectively; so, congenital chylothorax was diagnosed and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were initiated. Accumulation of plural fluid was approximately stopped after begging TPN for two weeks. Therefore, we started feeding with a medium chain triglyceride (MCT), but plural effusion was seen once again and we had to restart TPN. We decided to start octreotide subcutaneously (1 μg/kg/day). Finally, the CXR and ultrasound 'did not show any pleural effusion in both sides and the ultrasound done in the third month showed no pleural effusion either.

CONCLUSIONS

Octreotide therapy as one of the conservative managements for CC can be considered before surgical methods. This treatment method also had some effects on the feeding initiation time and helped us to start feeding sooner. However, more studies like clinical trials are still necessary to investigate all aspects of octreotide treatment to determine the amount of its dose, initiation time, treatment duration, etc.

Safety of octreotide in hospitalized infants

BACKGROUND

Octreotide is used off-label in infants for treatment of chylothorax, congenital hyperinsulinism, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The safety profile of octreotide in hospitalized infants has not been described; we sought to fill this information gap.

METHODS

We identified all infants exposed to at least 1 dose of octreotide from a cohort of 887,855 infants discharged from 333 neonatal intensive care units managed by the Pediatrix Medical Group between 1997 and 2012. We collected laboratory and clinical information while infants were exposed to octreotide and described the frequency of baseline diagnoses, laboratory abnormalities, and clinical adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

A total of 428 infants received 490 courses of octreotide. The diagnoses most commonly associated with octreotide use were chylothorax (50%), pleural effusion (32%), and hypoglycemia (22%). The most common laboratory AEs that occurred during exposure to octreotide were thrombocytopenia (47/1000 infant-days), hyperkalemia (21/1000 infant-days), and leukocytosis (20/1000 infant-days). Hyperglycemia occurred in 1/1000 infant-days and hypoglycemia in 3/1000 infant-days. Hypotension requiring pressors (12%) was the most common clinical AE that occurred during exposure to octreotide. Necrotizing enterocolitis was observed in 9/490 (2%) courses, and death occurred in 11 (3%) infants during octreotide administration.

CONCLUSION

Relatively few AEs occurred during off-label use of octreotide in this cohort of infants. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate the safety, dosing, and efficacy of this medication in infants.

Conservative management of chylothorax after coronary artery bypass grafting

Chylothorax is a rare sequela to cardiac surgery, associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. There are various medical and surgical options for its management. We describe 2 cases of chylothorax that developed after coronary artery bypass grafting and were managed successfully with medical therapy alone. Conservative treatment such as we describe aims to reduce chyle flow, to drain the pleural cavity in an effective manner, and to prevent chronic sequelae. Optimal conservative treatment, consisting of nothing by mouth and the administration of a pleurodetic agent, should be started immediately upon diagnosis. In most cases, it reduces the need for reoperation and long-term hospitalization. Prospective randomized controlled trials are nonetheless needed to confirm these assumptions.

The changing management of chylothorax in the modern era

Initial conservative therapy is applied to all cases of chylothorax (CTx) with expected excellent outcomes. The indication for aggressive surgical treatment of early CTx remains uncertain and requires rigorous scientific scrutiny. Lymphangiography and lymphoscintigraphy are useful to localize the leak and assess thoracic duct patency as well as to differentiate partial from complete thoracic duct transection. The aetiology of the CTx, flow rate and patient condition dictate the preferred management. Octreotide/somatostatin and etilefrine therapy is highly efficacious in the conservative management of CTx. For patients in whom conservative management fails, those who are good surgical candidates, and those in whom the site of the leak is well identified, surgical repair and/or ligation using minimally invasive techniques is highly successful with limited adverse outcomes. Similarly, if the site of the chylous effusion cannot be well visualized, a thoracic duct ligation via video-assisted thoracic surgery is the gold standard approach. A pleuroperitoneal or less often a pleurovenous shunt is a final option and may be curative in some patients.

Simultaneous chylothorax and chylous ascites due to tuberculosis

Chylothorax or chylous ascites is rare manifestation of tuberculosis. We report a case of simultaneous chylothorax and chylous ascites due to tuberculosis. A 17-year-old girl was admitted with fever, abdominal distention and dyspnea. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed bilateral pleural effusion, multifocal nodular consolidation on both lung fields and copious ascites and multiple necrotic lymphadenopathy in the abdominal cavity. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from sputum and pleural fluid. The patient was treated with anti-tuberculosis medication. Pleural effusion and ascites improved with the medication.