[Treatment of a prenatally diagnosed chylothorax]

A case of bilateral fetal chylothorax was diagnosed by ultra-second at 34 weeks gestation. The pregnancy had shown marked hydramnios. The ultrasound examination showed massive pleural effusions with marked compression of the both lungs a low diaphragm and a normal sized heart. After administration of Dexamethasone for pulmonary maturation a primary Caesarean section was done at 37 weeks pregnancy, the newborn was immediately intubated and the pleural effusions suctioned by bilateral pleural drainage. The lungs expanded satisfactorily, the drainage was removed 2 weeks later and the infant developed normally.