title: Medical thoracoscopy for the treatment of complicated hepatic hydrothorax.
abstract: Hepatic hydrothorax is a complication of liver cirrhosis. Several invasive therapeutic approaches have been performed such as thoracentesis, video-assisted thoracic surgery and repair of the diaphragmatic defects with debatable results. Medical thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive and effective technique with challenging applications that has not been thoroughly used in the treatment of hepatic hydrothorax. We hereby present the case of a hepatic hydrothorax complicated by thoracic empyema in a 38-year-old patient with alcoholic cirrhosis that was treated with medical thoracoscopy and talc pleurodesis.
authors: 1st IKA Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: N A
authors: NA
authors: Papakonstantinou
authors: Sotiria Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Hardavella
authors: 1st IKA Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Papavasileiou
authors: 1st IKA Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Anastasiou