Role of the peritoneopleural pressure gradient in the genesis of hepatic hydrothorax. An isotopic study.
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.
Ajmi
S
S
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sahloul's Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. ajmi sami@hotmail.com
Sfar
R
R
Nouira
M
M
Souguir
A
A
Jmaa
A
A
Golli
L
L
Ben Fredj
M
M
Essabbah
H
H
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