Short Registry of Terminal Forms of Chronic Heart Failure in the Samara Region.

AIM: To study the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with functional class (FC) III-IV chronic heart failure (CHF) who meet the criteria for inclusion in the palliative care program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A short registry of severe CHF forms was conducted at 60 outpatient and inpatient clinics in the Samara region for one month (16.05.2022-15.06.2022). The registry included patients with FC III-IV CHF who sought medical help during that period. Lethal outcomes were assessed at 90 days after the inclusion in the registry using the Mortality Information and Analytics system. RESULTS: 591 patients (median age, 71.0 [64.0; 80.0] years were enrolled, including 339 (57.4%) men, of which 149 (24.1%) were of working age (under 65 years). The main cause of CHF was ischemic heart disease (64.5%). 229 (38.7%) patients had left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. During the past year, 513 (86.8%) patients had at least one hospitalization for decompensated CHF. 45.7% of patients had hydrothorax, and 11.3% of patients had ascites. Low systolic blood pressure was observed in more than 25% of patients; 14.2% required in-hospital inotropic support; and 9.1% received it on the outpatient basis. 4.2% of patients received outpatient oxygen support and 0.8% required the administration of narcotic analgesics. 12 (1.9%) patients were on the waiting list for heart transplantation. In this study, there was an inconsistency in the number of patients with ventricular tachycardia and/or left bundle branch block (LBBB) who were implanted with cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRTD) or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a total of 19 patients (11 patients with CRTD and 8 patients with ICD), while 58 (9.8%) patients had indications for CRTD/ICD implantation. Within 90 days from inclusion in the registry, 59 (10.0%) patients died. According to binary logistic regression analysis, the presence of LBBB, hydrothorax, the requirement for outpatient oxygen support, and a history of cardiac surgery were associated with a high risk of death. CONCLUSION: Patients with severe forms of CHF require not only adequate drug therapy, but also dynamic clinical observation supplemented with palliative care aimed at improving the quality of life, including the ethical principles of shared decision-making and advance care planning to identify the priorities and goals of patients in relation to their care.

Diagnosis and Management of Hepatic Hydrothorax.

Hepatic hydrothorax is a pleural effusion (typically ≥500 mL) that develops in patients with cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension in the absence of other causes. In most cases, hepatic hydrothorax is seen in patients with ascites. However, ascites is not always found at diagnosis and is not clinically detected in 20% of patients with hepatic hydrothorax. Some patients have no symptoms and incidental findings on radiologic examination lead to the diagnosis of the condition. In the majority of cases, the patients present with symptoms such as dyspnea at rest, cough, nausea, and pleuritic chest pain. The diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax is based on clinical manifestations, radiological features, and thoracocentesis to exclude other etiologies such as infection (parapneumonic effusion, tuberculosis), malignancy (lymphoma, adenocarcinoma) and chylothorax. The management strategy involves a stepwise approach of one or more of the following: Reducing ascitic fluid production, preventing fluid transfer to the pleural space, fluid drainage from the pleural cavity, pleurodesis (obliteration of the pleural cavity), and liver transplantation. The complications of hepatic hydrothorax are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The complication that causes the highest morbidity and mortality is spontaneous bacterial empyema (also called spontaneous bacterial pleuritis).

Left hepatic hydrothorax without ascites.

Hepatic hydrothorax (HH) is a complication in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. It predominantly presents in the right pleural cavity and usually associates with ascites. Few cases of HH occurring without detectable ascites have been reported. This case report comprehensively presents a case of a refractory left unilateral HH without ascites. The patient benefited from palliative care and the HH was managed using a semipermanent indwelling pleural catheter until she died 3 months after diagnosis.

Pleural effusion portends a poor prognosis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

AIMS: Pleural effusion is not an infrequent complication in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. However, there is not adequate data to evaluate pleural effusion and prognosis in clinical practice. In this study, we validated this potential association by a multicenter cohort. METHODS: We screened 1,162 patients who met the inclusion criteria with PD. According to the existence of pleural effusion on stable dialysis (4-8 weeks after dialysis initiation), the participants were divided into pleural effusion and non-pleural effusion groups. The hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause and cause-specific death were estimated with adjustment for demographic characteristics and multiple potential clinical confounders. Subgroup analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to further verify the robustness of the correlation between hydrothorax and prognosis. RESULTS: Pleural effusion was found in 8.9% (104/1162) of PD individuals. After adjusting for the confounding factors, patients with pleural effusion had significantly increased HRs for all-cause death was 3.06 (2.36-3.96) and cardiovascular death was 3.78 (2.67-5.35) compared to those without pleural effusion. However, it was not associated with infectious and other causes of death. After PSM, the HR of all-cause mortality was 3.56 (2.28-5.56). The association trends were consistent in the subgroup sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION: Pleural effusion is not rare in PD, and is significantly associated with overall and cardiovascular mortality, which is independent of underlying diseases and clinically relevant indicators.

Refractory hepatic hydrothorax is associated with increased mortality with death occurring at lower MELD-Na compared to cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although refractory hepatic hydrothorax (RH) is a serious complication of cirrhosis, waitlisted patients do not receive standardized Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) exemption because of inadequate evidence suggesting mortality above biochemical MELD. This study aimed to examine liver-related death (LRD) associated with RH compared to refractory ascites (RA). APPROACH AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective cohort study of Veterans with cirrhosis. Eligibility criteria included participants with RH or RA, followed from their first therapeutic thoracentesis/second paracentesis until death or transplantation. The primary outcome was LRD with non-LRD or transplantation as competing risk. Of 2552 patients with cirrhosis who underwent therapeutic thoracentesis/paracentesis, 177 met criteria for RH and 422 for RA. RH was associated with a significantly higher risk of LRD (adjusted HR [aHR] 4.63, 95% CI 3.31-6.48) than RA overall and within all MELD-sodium (MELD-Na) strata (<10 aHR 4.08, 95% CI 2.30-7.24, 10-14.9 aHR 5.68, 95% CI 2.63-12.28, 15-24.9 aHR 4.14, 95% CI 2.34-7.34, ≥25 aHR 7.75, 95% CI 2.99-20.12). LRD was higher among participants requiring 1 (aHR 3.54, 95% CI 2.29-5.48), 2-3 (aHR 4.39, 95% CI 2.91-6.63), and ≥4 (aHR 7.89, 95% CI 4.82-12.93) thoracenteses relative to RA. Although participants with RH and RA had similar baseline MELD-Na, LRD occurred in RH versus RA at a lower MELD-Na (16.5 vs. 21.82, p =0.002) but higher MELD 3.0 (27.85 vs. 22.48, p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: RH was associated with higher risk of LRD than RA at equivalent MELD-Na. By contrast, MELD 3.0 may better predict risk of LRD in RH.

Liver transplantation for refractory hepatic hydrothorax is associated with a greater survival benefit compared to other complications of cirrhosis.

Hepatic hydrothorax (HH) is a significant complication of cirrhosis associated with increased mortality. Liver transplantation (LT) remains the best treatment modality. We aim to assess predictors of mortality and the survival benefit of LT in patients with HH. A prospectively maintained cohort of adult patients with cirrhosis, being evaluated for LT at our institution, was retrospectively reviewed from 2015 to 2020. The primary outcome was death or LT. Cox proportional hazard regression identified associations between covariates and death. We calculated the years saved due to LT by comparing patients who were on the waiting list with patients who received an LT. This was done by calculating the area under the Kaplan-Meier curve. Censoring occurred at the time of the last follow-up or death. Patients with refractory HH had the lowest median survival of only 0.26 years. Within the HH group, having a refractory HH group was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.06-2.81; p -value 0.03). Refractory HH was also significantly associated with mortality when evaluated in the entire cohort and after adjusting for other covariates (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.03-2.11; p -value 0.03). Patients with refractory HH had the highest 1-year survival benefit with LT (0.48 y), followed by patients with non-refractory HH (0.28 y), then patients with other complications of cirrhosis (0.19 y). In this large study evaluating the prognostic impact of HH on patients with cirrhosis, refractory HH was an independent predictor of mortality. LT provides an additional survival benefit to patients with HH compared with those without HH.

A case of refractory hepatic hydrothorax due to pleuroperitoneal communication successfully controlled by diaphragmatic plication and subsequent peritoneovenous shunting.

In general, control of hepatic hydrothorax is difficult, and patients have a poor prognosis. A case in which hepatic hydrothorax was well controlled for a long time after diaphragm plication and subsequent Denver shunt placement is reported. A 70-year-old man with decompensated liver cirrhosis presented with progressive exertional dyspnea. 5 years before admission, hepatic ascites associated with portal hypertension appeared, and a left pleural effusion subsequently developed. The pleural effusion was not controlled by salt restriction and diuretics. Based on the clinical findings, the existence of pleuroperitoneal communication was strongly suspected, and surgical diaphragmatic plication was performed. After the treatment, the pleural effusion did not accumulate, but ascites increased significantly, and conservative therapy was ineffective. For the treatment of massive ascites, a peritoneovenous shunt (Denver shunt®) was placed. Although more than 2 years have passed, the thoracoabdominal effusions have not accumulated, and the patient has been asymptomatic. The present case suggests that multidisciplinary treatment may improve the prognosis of patients with refractory thoracoabdominal effusions.

[Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Intraoperative Imaging for Fistula Identification of Pleuroperitoneal Communication by Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis:Report of a Case].

A 64-year-old female with chronic renal failure had been receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). She developed acute hydrothorax in the right pleural cavity 1 year after the commencement of CAPD. Scintigraphy revealed a diagnosis of pleuroperitoneal communication, and we performed video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. We infused a dialysis solution containing indocyanine green (ICG) through CAPD catheter. Near-infrared fluorescence thoracoscopy revealed a fistula that could not be identified by white light. We sutured the fistula covered with a polyglycolic acid sheet and fibrin glue. The CAPD was able to be resumed 8 days after surgery, and there was no recurrence of pleural effusion 10 months since surgery. Identification of the diaphragmatic fistula is important in the treatment of pleuroperitoneal communication. This technique using near-infrared fluorescence thoracoscopy with ICG was useful in identifying the fistula, and it emitted sufficient fluorescence even at low concentration ICG.

A Case Report of Tension Hydrothorax Incited by Bowel Perforation.

We report the case of a 34-year-old man who developed cardiac arrest due to tension hydrothorax from colonic perforation. Tension hydrothorax, an entity characterized by pleural effusion leading to mediastinal compression, has not been reported in association with intraabdominal inflammation. Our patient developed respiratory insufficiency after repair of colonic perforation, followed by respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. Transthoracic echocardiography provided rapid diagnosis during decompensation and prompted a lifesaving thoracostomy. Clinicians should consider tension hydrothorax as a rare cause of hemodynamic collapse, even in the absence of liver failure, and use bedside tools like transthoracic echocardiography to facilitate diagnosis and intervention.

Hydrothorax and air fluid levels in the right chest - a diagnostic dilemma.

SUMMARY: A diaphragmatic defect that permits abdominal contents to herniate into the right side of the chest is rare. In adults with right-sided diaphragmatic hernias, few occur without a history of trauma, and even fewer are symptomatic. This case report illustrates such a case and the rare entity of an anterolaterally located hernia. Although uncommon and easily missed, consequences of diaphragmatic hernias can be disastrous. The importance of a combination of high clinical suspicion and the use of computed tomography (CT) to aid diagnosis, and the dangers of a surgical condition being incorrectly assessed and admitted to a non-surgical specialty are highlighted in this case.

Pleuroperitoneal communication in a patient on automated peritoneal dialysis: A rare but important complication.

Despite its rare frequency, a pleuroperitoneal communication is a well-documented complication for patients on peritoneal dialysis. It occurs in ~2% of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, with uncertain incidence for those on automated peritoneal dialysis. We report a case of a 30-year-old female patient with end-stage kidney disease with sudden dyspnea 2 days after starting automated peritoneal dialysis. Her chest x-ray revealed a significant pleural effusion on the right side. A thoracocentesis was performed, with a pleural glucose/plasma glucose of 1.08. Additionally, a computed tomography scan revealed a pleuroperitoneal communication upon dialysate infusion added with media contrast. A pleural-to-serum glucose gradient of greater than 50 mg/dL may indicate the diagnosis of a pleuroperitoneal communication in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Current literature also indicates that a pleural-to-serum glucose ratio above 1.0 may provide a more sensitive analysis. This case highlights the diagnosis process for this complication, with both laboratory and image findings corroborating the clinical hypotheses of a pleuroperitoneal communication in a patient on automated peritoneal dialysis.

International survey among hepatologists and pulmonologists on the hepatic hydrothorax: plea for recommendations.

BACKGROUND: The Hepatic hydrothorax is a pleural effusion related to portal hypertension; its diagnosis and therapeutic management may be difficult. The aims of this article are which follows: To gather the practices of hepatogastroenterologists or pulmonologists practitioners regarding the diagnosis and management of the hepatic hydrothorax. METHODS: Practitioners from 13 French- speaking countries were invited to answer an online questionnaire on the hepatic hydrothorax diagnosis and its management. RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-eight practitioners (80% from France) responded to this survey. 75% were hepatogastroenterologists, 20% pulmonologists and the remaining 5% belonged to other specialities. The Hepatic hydrothorax can be located on the left lung for 64% of the responders (66% hepatogastroenterologists vs 57% pulmonologists; p = 0.25); The Hepatic hydrothorax can exist in the absence of clinical ascites for 91% of the responders (93% hepatogastroenterologists vs 88% pulmonologists; p = 0.27). An Ultrasound pleural scanning was systematically performed before a puncture for 43% of the responders (36% hepatogastroenterologists vs 70% pulmonologists; p < 0.001). A chest X-ray was performed before a puncture for 73% of the respondeurs (79% hepatogastroenterologists vs 54% pulmonologists; p < 0.001). In case of a spontaneous bacterial empyema, an albumin infusion was used by 73% hepatogastroenterologists and 20% pulmonologists (p < 0.001). A drain was used by 37% of the responders (37% hepatogastroenterologists vs 31% pulmonologists; p = 0.26).An Indwelling pleural catheter was used by 50% pulmonologists and 22% hepatogastroenterologists (p < 0.01). TIPS was recommended by 78% of the responders (85% hepatogastroenterologists vs 52% pulmonologists; p < 0.001) and a liver transplantation, by 76% of the responders (86% hepatogastroenterologists vs 44% pulmonologists; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this large study provide important data on practices of French speaking hepatogastroenterologists and pulmonologists; it appears that recommendations are warranted.

Clinical features of fetal hydrothorax associated with mucopolysaccharidosis-VII.

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS)-VII, called Sly disease, is a lysosomal storage disorder that can cause fetal hydrops, including fetal hydrothorax (FHT). We describe two fetal cases that received thoracoamniotic shunting for FHT, which was later found to be associated with MPS-VII by exome sequencing. Bilateral FHT accompanied by skin edema and ascites was found before 20 weeks of gestation in both cases. One fetus died in utero at 35 weeks of gestation, and the other survived with preterm delivery at 30 weeks of gestation. Both cases inherited compound pathogenic variants of GUSB from parents. Comparison with previously reported primary FHT cases revealed distinct clinical features in MPS-VII-associated FHT: early gestational age at diagnosis (<26 weeks), bilateral effusion, skin edema with ascites, and poor survival. A genetic analysis would be considered for FHT cases, with consideration of shunting when they show early-onset bilateral effusions with skin edema and ascites.

Expert Review on Contemporary Management of Common Benign Pleural Effusions.

Heart failure (HF) and cirrhosis are frequently associated with pleural effusions (PEs). Despite their apparently benign nature, both HF-related effusions and hepatic hydrothorax (HH) have poor prognosis because they represent an advanced stage of the disease. Optimization of medical therapy in these two entities involve not only the use of diuretics, but also other pharmacological therapies. For instance, all HF patients with reduced or mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction can benefit from angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, beta blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. Conversely, it is better for HH patients to avoid nonselective beta blockers. Refractory cardiac- and cirrhosis-related PEs are commonly managed by iterative therapeutic thoracentesis. When repeated aspirations are needed, thereby diminishing quality of life, the insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) may be warranted. However, in selected HH patients who are diuretic-resistant or diuretic-intractable, placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts should be considered as a bridge to liver transplantation, whereas in transplant candidates the role of IPC is debatable. Another benign condition, pleural tuberculosis (TB) is a serious health problem in developing countries. Diagnostic certainty is still a concern due to the paucibacillary nature of the infection, although the use of more sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests is becoming more widespread. Its treatment is the same as that of pulmonary TB, but the potential drug interactions between antiretroviral and anti-TB drugs in HIV-coinfected patients as well as the current recommended guidelines for the different types of anti-TB drugs resistance should be followed.

Minimally invasive surgery for pleuroperitoneal communication complicating peritoneal dialysis.

OBJECTIVE: Pleuroperitoneal communication (PPC) is an uncommon but serious complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). At present, there are many kinds of treatment options, with different effects. We describe our single-institutional experiences in the minimally invasive surgery of pleuroperitoneal communication complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in detail. METHODS: Our study consecutively enrolled 12 pleuroperitoneal communication patients complicating CAPD. All patients underwent direct closure of the defective diaphragm and mechanical rub pleurodesis under video-assisted thoracoscopy. What is more, pseudomonas aeruginosa injection was infused into the thoracic cavity postoperatively to further promote pleural adhesion, which was the innovation of our study. RESULTS: After 1.0-8.3 months of CAPD, all 12 patients presented hydrothorax in the right side. All these patients received surgery 7-179 days (18.0 ± 49.5 days) after onset. Bleb-like lesions situated on the diaphragm were discovered in all patients and three patients also had obvious hole on the surface of diaphragm. Pseudomonas aeruginosa injection was infused into the thoracic cavity postoperatively, and three cases showed fever with remission after 2-3 days of symptomatic treatment. The time from surgery to restarting CAPD ranged from 14 to 47 days, with a median of 20 days. There was no recurrence of hydrothorax and transformation to hemodialysis during the follow-up period (median: 7.5 months). CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic direct closure of the defective diaphragm and mechanical rub pleurodesis plus chemical pleurodesis using pseudomonas aeruginosa injection postoperatively is a safe and effective option for the treatment of pleuroperitoneal communication complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with 100% success rate.

Open Thoracic Drainage Followed by Proximal Splenic Artery Embolization for Massive Hydrothorax Before Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic hydrothorax is associated with postoperative infectious complications and mortality in patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Thus, preoperative management of massive hepatic hydrothorax is essential for improving the outcomes of LDLT. This study aimed to demonstrate our successful cases and strategy for treating massive hepatic hydrothorax. METHODS: Our strategy for hepatic hydrothorax includes (a) mini-thoracotomy under general anesthesia for the drainage of hydrothorax, (b) preoperative hepatic inflow modulation by proximal splenic arterial embolization, and (c) nutritional and physical intervention to improve the general condition. RESULTS: Two patients with massive hepatic hydrothorax were treated with our strategy. Both patients had end-stage liver disease secondary to primary biliary cholangitis. Their performance status deteriorated due to massive hydrothorax. After the intervention, their performance status significantly improved. After that, LDLTs with right lobe grafts were performed. The duration of the operation was 440 and 343 minutes, with an intraoperative blood loss of 1,700 and 1,600 g, respectively. Their postoperative courses were uneventful, and they were discharged on postoperative days 16 and 14. CONCLUSION: Our pre-LDLT multimodal management strategy for massive hepatic hydrothorax, including preoperative open thoracic drainage, pre-LDLT portal inflow modulation, and nutritional intervention, improved the preoperative condition of patients undergoing LDLT, resulting in successful outcomes.

Proximal Splenic Artery Embolization for Refractory Ascites and Hydrothorax Post-Liver Transplant.

PURPOSE: Proximal splenic artery embolization (pSAE) has been advocated as a valuable tool to ameliorate portal hyper-perfusion (PHP). The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of pSAE to treat refractory ascites (RA) and/or refractory hydrothorax (RH) in the setting of PHP post-liver transplant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients who underwent pSAE for RA and/or RH after liver transplantation (LT) between January 2007 and December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into groups according to the time frame from pSAE to clinical resolution in order to identify predictors of RA/RH response to the procedure. RESULTS: Twenty-four (80%) patients responded to pSAE within three months, whereas 6 (20%) still required additional treatments for RA/RH at three months post-pSAE. In all cases clinical symptoms resolved within six months. Complications after pSAE were as follows: 2 cases of splenic infarction (6.6%), one case of post-splenic embolization syndrome (3.3%), one case of hepatic artery thrombosis (3.3%) and one case of portal vein (PV) thrombosis (3.3%). Increased intraoperative PV flow volume and increased pre-pSAE PV velocity, as well as higher estimated glomerular filtration rate were associated with early RA/RH resolution. CONCLUSION: pSAE is safe and effective in treating RA and RH due to PHP after LT. This study suggests that clinical parameters indicating more severe PHP and better kidney function are possible predictors for early response to pSAE.