The Urinothorax: A Comprehensive Review With Case Series.

Urinothorax is an uncommon thoracic complication of genitourinary (GU) tract disease, which is most frequently caused by obstructive uropathy, but may also occur as a result of iatrogenic or traumatic GU injury. It is underrecognized because of a perceived notion as to the rarity of the diagnosis and the absence of established diagnostic criteria. Urinothorax is typically described as a paucicellular, transudative pleural effusion with a pleural fluid/serum creatinine ratio >1.0. It is the only transudate associated with pleural fluid acidosis (pH < 7.40). When the pleural fluid analysis demonstrates features of a transudate, pH <7.40 and a pleural fluid/serum creatinine ratio >1.0, a confident clinical diagnosis of urinothorax can be established. A technetium 99m renal scan can be considered a confirmatory test in patients who lack the typical pleural fluid analysis features or fail to demonstrate evidence of obstructive uropathy that can be identified via conventional radiographic modalities. Management of a urinothorax requires a multidisciplinary approach with an emphasis on the correction of the underlying GU tract pathology, and once corrected, this often leads to a rapid resolution of the pleural effusion.

Pasteurella multocida pleural effusion: A case report and review of literature.

We describe a man who developed pleural effusion with Pasteurella multocida, and review the reported literature concerning this entity. We identified 21 such cases, including our own. Most patients with P. multocida pleural effusions are immunocompromised and/or have significant co-morbidities. These effusions are typically complicated parapneumonic effusions that are grossly purulent (87%) with a low pleural fluid pH (mean 6.8), high protein (mean 4.8 g/dl) and high LDH (mean 1911 U/L) and low glucose (28.6 mg/dl). Pleural fluid drainage with tube thoracostomy was required in the majority (62%) of cases.