Hidrotórax hepático: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Hepatic hydrothorax: case report and literature review

El hidrotórax hepático es una complicación poco común que se da en pacientes con cirrosis hepática. Sepresenta el caso de una paciente con cirrosis por esteatohepatitis no alcohólica y evidencia de hipertensiónportal, y quien se presenta al servicio de urgencias con tos y dolor torácico; se le encuentra un derramepleural tipo trasudado por criterios de Light, asociado a ascitis, sin hallarse una causa cardíaca, pleural opulmonar del derrame mencionado. Se inicia tratamiento diurético, pero este debe ser suspendido cuandola paciente desarrolla disfunción renal importante; se drena el líquido con toracostomía, pero la pérdida devolumen adicional deteriora aún más la función renal, por lo que se decide realizar un shunt transyugularportosistémico (TIPS). Se logra disminuir la presión portal y el nivel de líquido ascítico y el derrame pleuraldisminuyen progresivamente. En una revisión posterior de la paciente y de su seguimiento radiológico no seregistró reaparición de los síntomas ni del derrame pleural o de ascitis.

Hepatic hydrothorax is a rare complication that occurs in patients with liver cirrhosis. We report the caseof a patient with NASH cirrhosis and evidence of portal hypertension who was admitted to the emergencydepartment with coughing and chest pain. Transudative pleural effusions (according to Light’s criteria) werefound in association with ascites, but no cardiac cause, pleural effusion or pulmonary effusion could be found.Treatment with diuretics was begun, but was suspended because the patient developed signifi cant renal dysfunction.Fluid was drained with a thoracostomy but additional loss of fl uid led to further deterioration of renalfunction. It was decided to insert a transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to signifi cantly decrease portalpressure and to progressively decrease ascitic fl uid and pleural effusion. A subsequent review of the patientand radiological follow-up found no recurrence of symptoms, pleural effusion or ascites.

Hepatic hydrothorax.

Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as significant pleural effusion (usually greater than 500 mL) in a cirrhotic patient, in the absence of underlying pulmonary or cardiac disease. The diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax should be suspected in a patient with established cirrhosis and portal hypertension, presenting with unilateral pleural effusion, most commonly rightsided. Hydrothorax is uncommon, and is found in 4–6% of all patients with cirrhosis and up to 10% in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Although ascites is usually present, hydrothorax can occur in the absence of ascites. Patients with hepatic hydrothorax usually have advanced liver disease with portal hypertension and most of them require liver transplantation. Current insight into the pathogenesis of this entity has led to improved treatment modalities such as portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and video-assisted thoracoscopy for closure of diaphragmatic defects. These modalities may provide a bridge towards transplantation.

Reexpansion Pulmonary Edema Occurred after Evacuating the Hepatic Hydrothorax in a Liver Transplant Patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A hepatic hydrothorax is a pleural effusion that develops in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension in the absence of cardiopulmonary disease. It is a complication of end-stage liver disease, and a liver transplant is the treatment of choice. In our case, a reexpansion pulmonary edema occurred after evacuating 4,250 ml of ascites and aspirating 3,600 ml of the pleural effusion within 15 minutes aimed at visually improving the surgical field in a 46-year-old male patient receiving a liver transplant. 1 hour 30 minutes after aspirating the pleural effusion, the level of oxygen saturation decreased from 100% to 95%, and serosanguinous fluid spilled over from the endotracheal tube. We inserted a double lumen endotracheal tube to both separate and protect the unaffected left lung, and applied CPAP 10 cmH2O at the affected right lung. The reexpansion pulmonary edema was successfully treated using this supportive management.

A Case of Refractory Hepatic Hydrothorax That Was Not Treated by Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt / 대한간학회지

Refractory hepatic hydrothorax has been treated by conservative methods: salt and water restriction, diuretics, thoracentesis, thoracostomy, and pleurodesis. The results, however, havebeen disappointing. Recently, TIPS has emerged as a new method for refractory hepatic hydrothorax, but it may lead to fatal complications. We report a case of refractory hepatic hydrothorax that was not treated by TIPS despite of successful control of ascitest.

A Case of the Hepatic Hydrothorax in the Absence of Ascites Confirmed by Tc-99m Macroaggregated Serum Albumin Scan / 결핵

Pleural effusion due to hepatic cirrhosis with ascites is well known, although hepatic hydrothorax in the absence of ascites is a rare condition, the pathogenesis of which is still unknown. We report a case of hepatic hydrothorax without ascites confirmed by the intraperitoneal injection of Tc-99m macroaggregated serum albumin (Tc-99m MAA) that demonstrated the passage of Tc-99m MAA into the right pleural cavity.