Octreotide treatment for chylothorax after congenital heart surgery.

摘要

Dear Editor, We read with great interest the case report by Wright et al. entitled "Octreotide for Management of Chylothorax following Bidirectional Glenn in a Three-Month-Old Infant." The development of chylothorax after congenital heart surgery is a serious and often life-threatening complication that increases morbidity and mortality. Recent studies demonstrated that prevalence of chylothorax is increased from the previously reported 1 % or less to 2.5% to 4.7% in certain surgical procedures such as bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt operation, Fontan operation, and right ventricular dysfunction following repair of tetralogy of Fallot may incline to increase systemic venous pressure and therefore risk of postoperative chylothorax.