Open AccessHepatic hydrothorax occurring rapidly after manual abdominal compression
Author(s) -
Kazufumi Dohmen,
Hirofumi Tanaka,
Masatora Haruno,
Yoshiyuki Niho
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v13.i46.6284
Subject(s) - hydrothorax , medicine , pleural cavity , cirrhosis , abdomen , complication , abdominal cavity , thoracic cavity , pleural effusion , surgery , radiology , gastroenterology , ascites
Hepatic hydrothorax is a relatively infrequent but potentially serious complication of liver cirrhosis that often causes respiratory dysfunction. Several hypotheses for the development of hepatic hydrothorax have been suggested to explain a transdiaphragmatic shift of ascitic fluid through small defects between the peritoneal cavity and the pleural space. However, the rapid development of hydrothorax within several hours is seldom encountered. In addition, the causal factors for rapid passage of ascitic fluid into the pleural cavity are unknown. This report describes a patient with liver cirrhosis who suffered rapid development of a hydrothorax after manual compression of the abdomen.