Hidrotórax hepático: presentación de 3 casos con diferentes enfoques terapéuticos / Hepatic hydrothorax: presentation of 3 cases with different therapeutic approaches

El hidrotórax hepático (HH) se define como un derrame pleural mayor de 500 ml en pacientes con cirrosis e hipertensión portal. Representa una complicación infrecuente por lo general asociada con ascitis y su origen se relaciona con el paso de líquido ascítico a través de pequeños defectos en el diafragma de predominio en el hemitórax derecho. Una vez establecido el diagnóstico por imágenes, la toracentesis diagnostica permite confirmar un trasudado. La terapia inicial está basada en la restricción de sodio y el uso combinado de diuréticos. El 20-25% de los pacientes desarrolla un HH refractario, el cual requiere intervenciones invasivas tales como la derivación percutánea portosistémica intrahepática (DPPI), la reparación de los defectos diafragmáticos por videotoracoscopia asistida asociada a pleurodésis química y el uso de un catéter pleural tunelizado. No se recomienda la inserción de un tubo de tórax por su elevada morbilidad y mortalidad. El tratamiento definitivo del HH es el trasplante hepático el cual alcanza una excelente sobrevida. Presentamos tres casos de hidrotórax hepático con diferentes enfoques terapéuticos que incluyeron el manejo conservador con dieta y diuréticos, la inserción fallida de un tubo de tórax con pleurodesis y una DPPI.

Hepatic hydrothorax is uncommon transudative pleural effusion greater than 500 ml in association with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Ascites is also present in most of the patients and the pathophysiology include the passage of ascites fluid through small diaphragmatic defects. After diagnostic thoracentesis studies, the first line management is restricting sodium intake and diuretics combination including stepwise dose of spironolactone plus furosemide. Therapeutic thoracentesis is a simple and effective procedure to relief dyspnea. Hepatic hydrothorax is refractory in approximately 20-25% and treatments options include repeated thoracentesis, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) placement, chemical pleurodesis with repair diaphragmatic defects using video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS), and insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter. Chest tube insertion carries significant morbidity and mortality with questionable benefit. Hepatic transplantation remains the best treatment option with long term survival. We present three cases of hepatic hydrothorax with different therapeutic approach including first line management, failed chest tube insertion and TIPS placement.

Tratamento de hidrotórax com shunt portossistêmico transjugular intra-hepático (TIPS) / Treatment of hydrothorax with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

O hidrotórax hepático caracteriza-se pelo derrame pleural secundário a ascite volumosa em pacientes com cirrose descompensada. É complicação rara em hepatopatas com hipertensão portal e de difícil reversão com o manejo clínico convencional para o tratamento da ascite. A introdução do shunt portossistêmico transjugular intra-hepático (TIPS) como opção terapêutica para esses pacientes mostrou-se procedimento bastante eficaz e com pequena morbidade associada. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar o caso de uma paciente hepatopata crônica, com ascite volumosa e hidrotórax refratários ao tratamento clínico, a qual foi submetida à colocação de TIPS para tratamento. Pacientes com cirrose descompensada e ascite são candidatos a complicações como peritonite bacteriana espontânea, síndrome hepatorrenal e hidrotórax. O tratamento definitivo nestes casos é o transplante hepático – nem sempre viável e de rápido acesso. O TIPS é opção terapêutica temporária e de baixo risco para esses pacientes e que vem mostrando altas taxas de sucesso.

Liver hydrothorax is characterized by pleural effusion secondary to voluminous ascites in patients with uncompensated cirrhosis. It is a rare complication in hepatopaths with portal hypertension, one not easily reverted through the standard clinical management for the treatment of ascites. The introduction of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) as a therapeutic option for these patients proved to be quite efficacious and with little associated morbidity. The aim of this work is to report the case of a chronic female hepatopath with voluminous ascites and hydrothorax refractory to clinical treatment, who was submitted to TIPS. Patients with uncompensated cirrhosis and ascites are candidates to complications such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and hydrothorax. Definitive treatment in these cases is the hepatic transplant – not always viable and easily accessed. TIPS is the temporary, low-risk therapeutic option for such patients, which has shown high rates of success.

Secuestro pulmonar asociado a hidrotórax, un hallazgo infrecuente: caso clínico / Sequestration pulmonary associated to hydrotorax, an infrequent find

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare lung congenital malformation that can be diagnosed in the rutine prenatal ultrasound scan. It has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, that range from asymptomatic fetuses to hydrops fetalis. Although prenatal Ultrasound (US) has been the traditional diagnostic tool in these cases, fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may prove useful in differential diagnosis with cistic adenomatous malformation (CCAM) and also in the evaluation of the mass efect exerted by the malformation. We present a case of a 38 year old pregnant woman with a diagnosis of fetal hydrothorax in the 29th week of gestation. Ultrasound and MRI evaluation revealed pulmonary sequestration. Management involved prenatal thoracocentesis, planned delivery and neonatal support. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach when encountering fetal lung anomalies including radiologists and pediatricians, a thorough assessment of the lesion using US, MRI and planned delivery in a tertiary center with adecuate neonatal support.

El secuestro pulmonar es una malformación congénita pulmonar infrecuente que puede ser diagnosticada mediante el ultrasonido durante una evaluación prenatal de rutina. Sus manifestaciones clínicas van desde fetos asintomáticos hasta el hidrops fetal. Si bien la ultrasonografía ha sido el método tradicional de evaluación de estas malformaciones, la utilización de resonancia puede demostrar utilidad, en especial en el diagnóstico diferencial con malformación adenomatosa quística, como también en evaluar el efecto de compresión ejercido por la lesión, y estimar el volumen pulmonar residual. Se presenta un caso de una paciente embarazada de 38 años con diagnóstico de secuestro pulmonar a las 29 semanas y que a las 32semanas evolucionó con hidrotórax que requirió toracocentesis, interrupción programada y soporte neonatal. Este caso resalta la importancia de usar un enfoque multidisciplinario al enfrentarse con lesiones pulmonares fetales que incluya neonatólogo, radiólogo, obstetra, y una evaluación detallada de la lesión utilizando ultrasonografía y resonancia magnética como también interrupción programada en un centro terciario con adecuado soporte neonatal.

[Fetal pleural effusions-A case report]

Foetal pleural effusion in a rare situation. Diagnosis is normally easy to do by obstetrical sonography. The pleural effusions can be primary, caused by a pleural lymphatic vessels disorder, which have generally a good prognostic. In the other situations, they can be secondary to an other general immune or non-immune disorder. It can be compressive or associated to an hydrops fetalis, and needs in these cases an intra-uterine treatment based on decompression of hydrothorax. We report a case of bilateral pleural effusion diagnosed at nineteen weeks of pregnancy and spontaneously resolved at the 28[th] week. We treat the different clinical aspects of this anomaly and modalities of intra-uterine management

TIPS--anastomose portossistêmica intra-hepática transjugular. Revisao / TIPS - Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. A review

At the present time several therapeutic options are used for the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension. We will review the main medical publications on transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), a procedure seldom used among us. TIPS works as a portocaval side-to-side shunt and decreases the risk of esophageal bleeding through lowering of the portal system pressure and a decrease of the portal hepatic pressure gradient. TIPS consists in the percutaneous insertion, through the internal jugular vein, of a metallic stent under fluoroscopic control in the hepatic parenchyma creating a true porta caval communication. There are several studies demonstrating the efficacy of TIPS, although only a few of them are randomized and control-matched to allow us to conclude that this procedure is safe, efficient and with a good cost benefit ratio. In this review, we search for the analysis of the TIPS utilization, its techniques, its major indications and complications. TIPS has been used in cases of gastroesophageal bleeding that has failed with pharmacologic or endoscopic treatment in patients Child-Pugh B and C. It can be used also as a bridge for liver transplantation. Others indications for TIPS are uncontrolled ascites, hepatic renal syndrome, and hepatic hydrothorax. The main early complications of TIPS using are related to the insertion site and hepatic encephalopathy and the stent occlusion is the chief late complication.

Hidrotórax hepático na ausência de ascite: relato de caso / Hepatic hydrothorax in absence of ascites: report of case

Hidrotórax hepático ocorre em cerca de 5 por cento a 7 por cento dos cirróticos com ascite, porém na ausência de ascite é um evento raro. Relatamos caso de paciente portador de hepatopatia crônica por álcool e vírus B que evoluiu com volumoso derrame pleural na ausência de ascite clinicamente detectável e revisamos a fisopatologia, diagóstico e tratamento desta condiçäo clínica.

Hidrotórax como complicaçäo de cirrose hepática: diagnóstico pelo método cintilográfico / Hydrothorax as complication of hepatic cirrhosis: diagnosis by scintigraphic method

Os autores apresentam um caso de hidrotórax secundário a insuficiência hepatocelualr e ascite. O diagnóstico foi estabelecido através da injeçäo intraperitoneal de Tc-enxofre coloidal, evidenciando-se passagem do radiofármaco para a cavidade pleural. Após administraçäo intrapleural do radiotraçador, näo se observou sua passgem para a cavidade peritoneal. Portanto, o método radioisotópico demonstrou de maneira simples, rápida e näo invasiva a natureza do derrame pleural