Congenital pleural effusions: 15 years single-centre experience from North-East England

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to add to the scant literature on congenital pleural effusions to aid counselling and clinical management decisions.

Methods: Retrospective case series of 15 years of congenital pleural effusions resulting in live birth in a single tertiary foetal medicine/neonatal centre in North East England.

Results: Data were available for 21 infants. Mortality rates were 43% overall. All spontaneous resolution occurred within 9 d, and active management was used where effusions persisted beyond this.

Conclusion: Prematurity was associated with a poor prognosis. Resolution without active management occurred before day 10 and active strategies should be considered by this time.

Keywords:

• Chylothorax
• neonates
• neonatal
• pleural effusion
• octreotide

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.