Congenital extensive central venous thrombosis with chylous ascites and chylothoraces

[A clinical analysis of pericardial effusion caused by central venous catheterization in preterm infants]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical features of pericardial effusion caused by central venous catheterization in preterm infants.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 11 preterm infants with pericardial effusion caused by central venous catheterization. Their catheterization features, manifestations, treatment, and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 11 preterm infants (11/2 599, 0.42%) developed pericardial effusion, with a mean gestational age of (30.1±2.6) weeks and a mean birth weight of (1 240±234) g. Pericardial effusion mostly occurred within 4 days after central venous catheterization (10 cases, 91%). The main manifestations included poor response (6/11, 55%), cyanosis (5/11, 45%), increased respiratory rate (6/11, 55%), increased heart rate (6/11, 55%), aggravated dyspnea (5/11, 45%), and muffled heart sound (5/11, 45%). At the time of disease progression, 7 preterm infants (64%) had a deep position of the end of the catheter, 3 preterm infants (27%) had a correct position, and 1 preterm infant (9%) had a shallow position. Five preterm infants (45%) experienced cardiac tamponade, among whom 4 underwent pericardiocentesis. Seven preterm infants were given conservative medical treatment. Among the 11 children, 2 (18%) died and 9 (82%) improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Pericardial effusion caused by central venous catheterization mostly occurs in the early stage of catheterization and has critical clinical manifestations. Pericardiocentesis is required for cardiac tamponade, and early diagnosis and intervention can effectively improve prognosis.

Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis: Etiology, Symptomatology, Diagnosis and Current Treatment

(1) Background: internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVthr) is a potentially life-threating disease but no comprehensive reviews on etiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and current treatment guidelines are yet available; (2) Methods: we prospectively developed a protocol that defined objectives, search strategy for study identification, criteria for study selection, data extraction, study outcomes, and statistical methodology, according to the PRISMA standard. We performed a computerized search of English-language publications listed in the various electronic databases. We also retrieved relevant reports from other sources, especially by the means of hand search in the Glauco Bassi Library of the University of Ferrara; (3) Results: using the predefined search strategy, we retrieved and screened 1490 titles. Data from randomized control trials were few and limited to the central vein catheterization and to the IJVthr anticoagulation treatment. Systematic reviews were found just for Lemierre syndrome, the risk of pulmonary embolism, and the IJVthr following catheterization. The majority of the information required in our pre-defined objectives comes from perspectives observational studies and case reports. The methodological quality of the included studies was from moderate to good. After title and abstract evaluation, 1251 papers were excluded, leaving 239 manuscripts available. Finally, just 123 studies were eligible for inclusion. We found out the description of 30 different signs, symptoms, and blood biomarkers related to this condition, as well as 24 different reported causes of IJVthr. (4) Conclusions: IJVthr is often an underestimated clinical problem despite being one of the major sources of pulmonary embolism as well as a potential cause of stroke in the case of the upward propagation of the thrombus. More common symptoms are neck pain and headache, whereas swelling, erythema and the palpable cord sign beneath the sternocleidomastoid muscle, frequently associated with fever, are the most reported clinical signs. An ultrasound of the neck, even limited to the simple and rapid assessment of the compression maneuver, is a quick, economic, cost-effective, noninvasive tool. High quality studies are currently lacking.

Novel technique to manage refractory chylous ascites with carbon nanoparticle suspension in infants

OBJECTIVE

Chylous ascites (CA) is a rare form of ascites that results from the leakage of lipid-rich lymph into the peritoneal cavity. In infants, CA is mostly caused by lymphatic malformation or unknown reasons. The creation of a shunt for the lymphorrhea is the last option for patients unresponsive to all other conservative treatments. Localization of the leakage is a critical problem during surgery. We applied a carbon nanoparticle suspension (CNS) in CA patients to locate the external lymphatic leakage and evaluated its utility during surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twelve infants with CA were treated in our center recently. Ten patients received laparotomy, one refused therapy, and one was cured after undergoing conservative treatment. Recently, two infants with CA received CNS in the visceral peritoneum during laparotomy. The results of the traditional procedure were compared to our innovative technique for CA to evaluate the use of CNS in treating CA.

RESULTS

The features of the baseline data did not differ substantially. Location of the leakage with CNS was employed in 2 of the 10 patients whose lymphatic leakages were identified with the resolution of the refractory CA. Overall, in 5 patients, ascites was resolved successfully. The refractory CA was resolved more effectively in patients in whom the leakage site was identified with CNS than in patients in whom the leakage site could not be identified under conventional surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Injecting CNS improved the accuracy of lymphorrhagia leakage site identification and the outcomes of infants who underwent surgical treatment for refractory CA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II-III.

[A clinical analysis of neonatal chylous effusions]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical features, etiology, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal chylous effusions.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 21 neonates with chylous effusions.

RESULTS

Among these 21 neonates, 13 had chylothorax, 2 had chyloperitoneum, 2 had chylopericardium, and 4 had chylous polyserositis. Five neonates with congenital chylous effusions were enrolled as the congenital group, which mostly occurred in the fetal period, and symptoms were observed shortly after birth. Sixteen neonates with acquired chylous effusions were enrolled as the acquired group, and the symptoms mainly appeared within 1 week after central venous catheterization (in 14 neonates) or appeared together with sepsis (in 2 neonates). Compared with the acquired group, the congenital group had significantly higher specific gravity, white blood cell count, monocyte percentage, and albumin level in effusions (P<0.05) and significantly lower levels of glucose and triglyceride (P<0.05). Central venous catheterization-induced chylous effusions were mainly associated with inappropriate position, displacement damage, and hypertonicity. Conservative treatment was the main treatment method for the neonates with chylous effusions (in 20 children), with a response rate of 85%. Compared with the acquired group, the congenital group had a significant higher proportion of neonates receiving special formula feeding, a significantly lower proportion of neonates with extubation, and a significantly longer time to the absorption of effusions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The time to the occurrence of symptoms and clinical manifestations vary with disease etiology and location in neonates with chylous effusions. Neonates with acquired chylous effusions may experience hypertonic solution effusion due to vascular injury. Conservative treatment has a marked clinical effect on neonatal chylous effusions. It appears to be more difficult to treat neonates with congenital chylous effusions than those with acquired chylous effusion.

Chylothorax and chylous ascites: management and pitfalls

Leakage of lymph from the lymphatic ducts causes chylothorax (CT) or chylous ascitis (CA). This may happen for unknown reasons during fetal life or after birth and may also be caused by trauma after thoracic surgery or by other conditions. Fetal CT and CA may be lethal particularly in cases with fetal hydrops that sometimes benefit of intra-uterine instrumentation. After birth, symptoms are related to the amount of accumulated fluid. Sometimes, severe cardio-respiratory compromise prompts active therapy. Most patients with CT or CA benefit from observation, rest, and supportive measures alone. Drainage of the fluid may be necessary, but then loss of protein, fat, and lymphoid cells introduce new risks and require careful replacement. Low-fat diets with MCT and parenteral nutrition decrease fluid production while allowing adequate nutritional input. If lymph leakage does not stop, secretion inhibitors like somatostatin or octreotide are prescribed, although there is only weak evidence of their benefits. Imaging of the lymphatic system is indicated when the leaks persist, but this is technically demanding in children. Shunting of the lymph from one body space to another by means of valved catheters, embolization of the thoracic duct, and/or ligation of the major lymphatics may occasionally be indicated in cases refractory to all other treatments.

Clinical syndromes associated with acquired antithrombin deficiency via microvascular leakage and the related risk of thrombosis

Antithrombin (AT) is a 65kDa glycoprotein belonging to a group of inhibitory factors known as serpins (serine protease inhibitors). It plays a critical role in the inhibition of coagulation and inflammation processes within the environment of the vascular endothelium. Inadequate levels of functional AT in plasma results in an increased risk of thrombotic events, both venous and arterial. AT deficiency can be inherited or acquired. Congenital AT deficiency is the most severe inherited thrombophilic condition with an odds ratio of 20 for the increased risk of venous thrombosis. Acquired AT deficiency occurs in a variety of physiologic and pathologic medical conditions with similar risks of increased thrombosis. In this article, we review clinical settings characterized by an acquired AT deficiency largely or partly subsequent to protein microvascular leakage. Other different mechanisms of AT depletion are implied in some clinical conditions together with endothelial loss, and, therefore, outlined. In addition, we provide a description of the current knowledge on the specific mechanisms underlying endothelial AT leakage and on the consequences of this protein decrease, specifically looking at thrombosis. We identify potential directions of research that might prove useful in patients with acquired AT deficiency.