title: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in refractory chylothorax due to liver cirrhosis.
abstract: A pleural effusion containing chylomicrons is termed chylothorax and results from leakage of lymph fluid into the pleural cavity. We report on the case of a 59-year-old woman with severe dyspnea due to a large chylothorax. She was known to have liver cirrhosis but no ascites. There was no history of trauma, cardiac function was normal and thorough diagnostic work-up did not reveal any signs of malignancy. In summary, no other etiology of the chylothorax than portal hypertension could be found. Therapy with diuretics as well as parenteral feeding failed to relieve symptoms. After a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) had successfully been placed, pleural effusion decreased considerably. Eight months later, TIPS revision had to be performed because of stenosis, resulting in remission from chylothorax. This case shows that even in the absence of ascites, chylothorax might be caused by portal hypertension and that TIPS can be an effective treatment option.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, 53129 Bonn, Germany. philipp.lutz@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Lutz
authors: Holger
authors: H
authors: Strunk
authors: Hans Heinz
authors: HH
authors: Schild
authors: Tilman
authors: T
authors: Sauerbruch
mesh_terms: D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D010690:Phlebography; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics
keywords: Chylothorax; Cirrhosis; Liver; Portal hypertension; Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt