Hepatic hydrothorax: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.
Hepatic hydrothorax occurs in approximately 5 to 12% of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Various therapeutic modalities ranging from dietary and pharmacologic interventions to surgical approaches are available for the management of this condition. Treatment must be individualized based on the patient's response to conservative management as well as the severity of the underlying liver disease. Hepatic hydrothorax may be complicated by spontaneous bacterial empyema, which portends a poor prognosis with a mortality rate of up to 20%. All patients with hepatic hydrothorax should be evaluated for possible liver transplantation.
Garcia
Nelson
N
Division of Gastroenterology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
Mihas
Anastasios A
AA
D002908:Chronic Disease; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010536:Peritoneovenous Shunt; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D013907:Thoracostomy