title: [Hepatic hydrothorax: report of a series of 77 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical characteristics, the most effective treatment and survival of cirrhotic patients with hepatic hydrothorax (HH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive and retrospective analysis of a cohort of consecutive patients with HH undergoing a diagnostic thoracentesis. The biochemical and radiological features of the pleural effusion, its control with different therapies and the factors affecting survival were evaluated, among other parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seven patients with HH were included, of whom 14% did not have ascites. HH was right-sided in 77% of the cases, and occupied half or more of the hemithorax in 68%. Pleural fluids were transudative in 81% of the cases. Diuretic-resistant HH (27%) could be managed with liver transplantation, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or indwelling pleural catheters. However, pleurodesis failed in most patients. Median survival was 9.1 months, and it was only favorably affected by liver transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HH has a limited survival, only influenced by liver transplantation. In diuretic-resistant cases, TIPS or pleural indwelling catheters should be considered as a management option.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedades de la Pleura, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Lleida, Lleida, España. Electronic address: jporcelp@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Porcel
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reñé
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bielsa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018700:Pleurodesis; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics
keywords: Catéter intrapleural tunelizado; Cirrhosis; Cirrosis; Derivación portosistémica percutánea intrahepática; Derrame pleural; Hepatic hydrothorax; Hidrotórax hepático; Indwelling pleural catheter; Liver transplantation; Pleural effusion; Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt; Trasplante hepático