title: Surgical Treatment of Hepatic Hydrothorax: A "Four-Step Approach".
abstract: Recently, various video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical techniques have been reported with occasional success in treating hepatic hydrothorax (HH). In 2 patients with refractory HH, we applied a combination of four therapeutic modalities as a single procedure named as a "four-step approach": (1) pneumoperitoneum for localization of diaphragmatic defects, (2) thoracoscopic pleurodesis, (3) postoperative continuous positive airway pressure, and (4) drainage of ascites for abdominal decompression. The treatment was successful in both patients, without recurrence during the follow-up period of 24 and 3 months, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea. Electronic address: yochun@medimail.co.kr.
authors.forename: Yochun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000069258:Thoracentesis / Q000379:methods; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome