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.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest.