Hepatic hydrothorax - complication of end-stage hepatic cirrhosis

Iwona Damps-Konstańska; Marek Niedoszytko; Krzysztof Kuziemski; Krzysztof Specjalski; Jakub Łata; Ewa Jassem

Vol 7, No 1 (2008)

Case reports

Published online: 2008-02-25

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Hepatic hydrothorax - complication of end-stage hepatic cirrhosis

Iwona Damps-Konstańska, Marek Niedoszytko, Krzysztof Kuziemski, Krzysztof Specjalski, Jakub Łata, Ewa Jassem

Advances in Palliative Medicine 2008;7(1):29-32.

Vol 7, No 1 (2008)

Case reports

Published online: 2008-02-25

Abstract

62-year-old woman admitted to the hospital with dyspnoea, elevated body temperature, cough for two days. Patient has been treated for alcoholic hepatic sclerosis for 12 years and hepatitis C infection for 5 years. The chest X-ray revealed hydrothorax of right pleura. Continuous drainage of the right pleura was applied. In spite of intensive treatment effusion excuded 1000 ml/day making pleurodesis impossible, and eventually pleuro-peritoneal shunt was performed. Shunt drainage however turned out to be insufficient to evacuate the pleural fluid. The shunt was removed and continuous pleural drainage was reopen. Due to subsequent disseminated intravascular coagulation, patient was treated with fresh frozen plasma, heparin, blood and platelets. The clinical status alleviated, but patient still required chest tube because of the refractory hydrothorax.