Soonchunhyang Medical Science  2012;18(1):56-60

Complete Remission of Refractory Hepatic Hydrothorax in Patient with Advanced Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt.

Hyeon Jeong GOONG 1 ; Sang Gyune KIM ; Seung Sik PARK ; Youn Hee CHO ; Young Seok KIM ; Boo Sung KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Refractory hydrothorax; Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as the presence of pleural fluid (>500 mL) in the absence of primary cardiac or pulmonary disease. Initial treatments consist of a low salt diet, diuretics, and thoracentesis. If these are not effective, other modalities should be considered. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement is one of the modalities for treatment of hepatic hydrothorax. However, the effects of TIPS placement have been contradictory. A 42-year-old man was diagnosed hepatic hydrothorax with liver cirrhosis. He was managed with medical therapy, but it was not effective to control hepatic hydrothorax. This case is reported with a review of relevant literature.