NEONATAL CHYLOUS ASCITES - REPORT OF 3 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Three cases of neonatal chylous ascites (CCA) were managed in the neon atal unit, University Hospital: Kuala Lumpur, over the past 9 years. F etal ascites and polyhydramnios were the sole abnormalities detected i n all three babies by antenatal ultrasonography. They were born al 36 weeks' gestation and their birth weights ranged from 3.0 kg to 3.8 kg, All three infants had abdominal distension at birth, Milky ascitic fl uid was obtained after starting enteral feedings, Analysis of the asci tic fluid revealed a raised white blood cell count (predominantly lymp hocytic) and triglycerides (1.4-3.8 mmol/l), cholesterol (1.6-2.8 mmol /l), and protein levels (25-41 g/l). Conservative management with skim med mill: and medium-chain triglycerides in one infant and Pregestimil in another was instituted, these two infants with CCA were clinically normal when reviewed at 19 months and 3.5 years of age. The third inf ant had a gut malrotation and associated pyloric septum: he died from complications of a laparotomy. The literature on this rare condition i s reviewed.