Chylous ascites is the accumulation of milky fat-rich chyle in the peritoneal cavity. It is a rare condition in children. Congenital malformations of the lymphatic vascular channel are the predominant cause in children. Diagnosis is often confirmed by paracentesis of the chylous ascitic fluid. Treatment is generally conservative except in rare refractory cases that surgery is required for closure of the leak site or excision of the lymphatic cyst. Here is a report on the management of chylous ascites in a 6-h-old girl presenting in acute respiratory distress with acute abdominal distention due rapid increase in chylous ascitic fluid volume that was managed with surgery and frusemide.
Keywords: Acute abdominal distention; chylous ascites; frusemide; surgery.