Bilateral Spontaneous Chylothorax of the Newborn

Abstract

Respiratory distress in very early life is characteristic of bilateral neonatal spontaneous chylothorax which is attended by high mortality. The fifth known case, reported herein, is unique because of the occurrence of pneumothorax that subsequently became infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Infection in chylothorax has, to our knowledge, not been reported and has been said to be absent because of the bactericidal nature of lymph. The infection, in this case, may have been a factor in the cessation of lymph reaccumulation.