title: Role of the peritoneopleural pressure gradient in the genesis of hepatic hydrothorax. An isotopic study.
abstract: Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as the development of significant pleural effusion in a patient with cirrhosis without primary pulmonary or cardiac disease. This complication is seen in 4-10% of patients with cirrhosis. The pleural effusion is a result of a direct passage of ascitic fluid into the pleural cavity through a defect in the diaphragm. We report two patients with posthepatitis cirrhosis presenting with a significant pleural effusion. The peritoneopleural communication was demonstrated by peritoneal scintigraphy. The role of the peritoneopleural pressure gradient is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sahloul's Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. ajmi sami@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajmi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sfar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nouira
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souguir
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jmaa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Golli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Fredj
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Essabbah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018495:Fluid Shifts; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011312:Pressure; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging