Introduction:

Congenital chylothorax is a rare respiratory disease; however, it is the most common cause of pleural effusion in live newborns.

Objective:

To present a case of congenital chylothorax as an uncommon cause of respiratory distress in a newborn treated at the Gyneco-Obstetric Hospital of Villa Clara.

Case report:

Male patient, who was born at 26.2 weeks of gestational age, by eutocic delivery, with membrane time rupture of an hour, meconium amniotic fluid, to whom was given an Apgar score of 7/8 (normal) and a birth weight of 950 grams; with diagnose of connatal sepsis was necessary to treat with mechanical ventilation. At six days of age presented a clinical deterioration, with decrease of the vesicular murmur in the right hemithorax and at chest X-ray was observed a veiled right lung. The chest ultrasound confirmed a right pleural effusion that was punctured and the study of the drained fluid showed characteristics of a chylothorax. Conservative treatment was indicated (with complete parenteral feeding: traximin without lipid intake) and subsequently with milk rich in short and medium chain fatty acids (Enfaport® from Nestlé Company). Breastmilk was incorporated 15 days after the diagnose. He required prolonged mechanical ventilation. With a satisfactory evolution, he was discharged from the hospital center.

Conclusions:

The resolution of this entity is achieved through conservative treatment, without the presence of recurrence.