Objective: To examine the efficacy of octreotide in resolving chylothoraces in infants and children following cardiac surgery.
Design: Retrospective chart review.
Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care center.
Patients: All children who received octreotide for the treatment of chylothoraces following surgery for congenital heart disease over a 30-month period between 2001-2004.
Interventions: Octreotide infusion.
Measurements and main results: Eight 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.
Conclusion: In contrast to previously published reports, we find octreotide therapy for postoperative chylothoraces to be successful in only a minority of cases.