Hepatic hydrothorax: Pathophysiology diagnosis and management

Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as a significant pleural effusion (usually greater than 500 ml) in a cirrhotic patient, without an underlying pulmonary or cardiac disease. The diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax should be suspected in a patient with established cirrhosis and portal hypertension, present...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 2007-09, Vol.22 (9), p.1388-1393
Main Authors: Roussos, Anastasios, Philippou, Nikiphoros, Mantzaris, Gerassimos J, Gourgouliannis, Konstantinos I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
ascites
Ascites - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Diagnosis, Differential
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
hepatic hydrothorax
Humans
Hydrothorax - diagnosis
Hydrothorax - physiopathology
Hydrothorax - surgery
Hydrothorax - therapy
Liver Diseases - diagnosis
Liver Diseases - physiopathology
Liver Diseases - surgery
Liver Diseases - therapy
Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas
Medical sciences
Other diseases. Semiology
Pneumology
portal hypertension
Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic
Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases
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Summary:Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as a significant pleural effusion (usually greater than 500 ml) in a cirrhotic patient, without an underlying pulmonary or cardiac disease. The diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax should be suspected in a patient with established cirrhosis and portal hypertension, presenting with a unilateral pleural effusion, most commonly right‐sided. In the vast majority of cases, patients with hepatic hydrothorax have end‐stage liver disease. Therefore, they should be considered potential candidates for orthotopic liver transplantation. Until the performance of transplantation, other therapeutic modalities should be applied in order to relieve symptoms and prevent pulmonary complications.
ISSN:0815-9319
1440-1746
DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2007.05069.x