• Maple T Landvoigt and Charles J Mullett.
• Department of Internal Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.
• Pediatr Crit Care Me. 2006 May 1; 7 (3): 245-8.

ObjectiveTo examine the efficacy of octreotide in resolving chylothoraces in infants and children following cardiac surgery.DesignRetrospective chart review.SettingPediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care center.PatientsAll children who received octreotide for the treatment of chylothoraces following surgery for congenital heart disease over a 30-month period between 2001-2004.InterventionsOctreotide infusion.Measurements And Main ResultsEight courses of octreotide treatment were identified in seven patients who met our inclusion criteria. The median duration of therapy was 5 days, and dosing ranged from 1 to 4 microg/kg/hr. Treatment did not result in an overall decrease in average chest tube output after 3 days of therapy. However, in two patients (29%) the chylothoraces ultimately resolved during the octreotide infusion. Treatment was well tolerated, and no serious side effects were noted.ConclusionIn contrast to previously published reports, we find octreotide therapy for postoperative chylothoraces to be successful in only a minority of cases.

22 keywords...

hide…