title: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for the management of hepatic hydrothorax in the absence of ascites.
abstract: Hepatic hydrothorax in the absence of clinical ascites (HHAA) is a somewhat rare complication in decompensated cirrhosis. Patients with HHAA have a congenital defect in the tendinous portion of the diaphragm allowing rapid leakage of ascites into pleural cavity because of the cyclical negative intrathoracic pressure. Although several therapeutic approaches, including peritoneovenous shunt and chemical or surgical pleurodesis, have been attempted in these patients the results are largely unsatisfactory. A poor-risk surgical cirrhotic woman who was also considered not suitable for liver transplantation underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for palliation of HHAA. After TIPS procedure hydrothorax completely resolved. TIPS can offer an attractive alternative to standard therapy in cirrhotic patients with HHAA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital School of Medicine, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin-Palanca
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fraile
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alcantara
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Melgarejo
mesh_terms: D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic