Steroids as a possible effective therapy in the management of large isolated chylopericardium following open heart surgery.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chylopericardium is the collection of lymph fluid inside the pericardial cavity. The incidence of chylopericardium is very low, as this diagnosis is rarely reported following cardiac procedures in children. While some reports were published worldwide on isolated chylopericardium after cardiac surgeries for diverse reasons, it has never been reported after repair for partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. In addition, management of this diagnosis ends up being surgical with minimal concentration on medical treatment which proved unsuccessful. We present a medical approach with corticosteroids as an effective method to treat isolated chylopericardium.

CASE PRESENTATION:

In this manuscript, we present an approach to treat isolated post-operative chylopericardium in a child following repair of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. Chylous drainage responded to corticosteroids and completely ceased. There was no need for surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION:

Until now, isolated chylopericardium has never been reported to occur with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return repair. A review of the literature showed that most patients follow a conservative approach consisting of diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents with some of them undergoing surgical re-intervention. With future research on the topic still needed, we hope that this will encourage physicians worldwide to consider administering a trial of corticosteroids as an option to treat chylopericardium.

• Authors: Ghina Fakhri, Mohammed Abutaqa, Nour Abdulhalim, Haytham Bou Houssein, Zohair Al Halees, Issam El-Rassi, Fadi Bitar, Mariam Arabi
• Journal: Cardiology in the young (Cardiol Young) Vol. 29 Issue 12 Pg. 1426-1431 (Dec 2019) ISSN: 1467-1107 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31878984 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Steroids

Topics

• Angiography
• Cardiac Surgical Procedures (adverse effects)
• Child, Preschool
• Drainage (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Pericardial Effusion (diagnostic imaging, etiology, therapy)
• Radiography, Thoracic
• Scimitar Syndrome (surgery)
• Steroids (administration & dosage)