title: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation as treatment for refractory chylous ascites and chylothorax in a patient with cirrhosis.
abstract: The etiology of chylothorax is usually considered to consist of four major categories: tumors, trauma, idiopathic conditions, and miscellaneous conditions. It appears that chylothorax is a rare and underreported manifestation of cirrhosis resulting from transdiaphragmatic passage of chylous ascites. This condition can be debilitating as a result of respiratory compromise from a large volume of pleural fluid, as well as metabolic derangements, malnutrition, and immunologic impairment from loss of vital lymphatic constituents. Herein the authors present a case of a 46-year-old male patient with cirrhosis and complications of high-volume chylous ascites and chylothorax who was successfully treated with creation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego Medical Center, 200 West Arbor Street, mail code 8756, San Diego, California 92101, USA. tbkinney@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Franklin J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hassanein
mesh_terms: D015505:Chest Tubes; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002915:Chylous Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome