Management of refractory hepatic hydrothorax: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

Hepatic hydrothorax is a transudative pleural effusion in patients with cirrhosis. A 56-year-old cirrhotic patient presented with dyspnea and desaturation; his chest images showed a right pleural effusion. Another 66-year-old woman with cirrhosis, developed during her hospitalization acute respiratory failure, and her chest X- ray showed left pleural effusion. Initially, both patients were prescribed a dietary sodium restriction and diuretics. Nevertheless, they didn't have a good response so a chest tube was placed, and an octreotide infusion partially reduced the volume of the pleural drainage allowing a pleurodesis. We report two cases of refractory hepatic hydrothorax with multiple treatments including octreotide and pleurodesis.

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.

[Hepatic hydrothorax: presentation of 3 cases with different therapeutic approaches]. / Hidrotórax hepático: presentación de 3 casos con diferentes enfoques terapéuticos.

Hepatic hydrothorax is uncommon transudative pleural effusion greater than 500 ml in association with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Ascites is also present in most of the patients and the pathophysiology include the passage of ascites fluid through small diaphragmatic defects. After diagnostic thoracentesis studies, the first line management is restricting sodium intake and diuretics combination including stepwise dose of spironolactone plus furosemide. Therapeutic thoracentesis is a simple and effective procedure to relief dyspnea. Hepatic hydrothorax is refractory in approximately 20-25% and treatments options include repeated thoracentesis, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) placement, chemical pleurodesis with repair diaphragmatic defects using video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS), and insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter. Chest tube insertion carries significant morbidity and mortality with questionable benefit. Hepatic transplantation remains the best treatment option with long term survival. We present three cases of hepatic hydrothorax with different therapeutic approach including first line management, failed chest tube insertion and TIPS placement.

Hidrotórax hepático: presentación de 3 casos con diferentes enfoques terapéuticos / Hepatic hydrothorax: presentation of 3 cases with different therapeutic approaches

El hidrotórax hepático (HH) se define como un derrame pleural mayor de 500 ml en pacientes con cirrosis e hipertensión portal. Representa una complicación infrecuente por lo general asociada con ascitis y su origen se relaciona con el paso de líquido ascítico a través de pequeños defectos en el diafragma de predominio en el hemitórax derecho. Una vez establecido el diagnóstico por imágenes, la toracentesis diagnostica permite confirmar un trasudado. La terapia inicial está basada en la restricción de sodio y el uso combinado de diuréticos. El 20-25% de los pacientes desarrolla un HH refractario, el cual requiere intervenciones invasivas tales como la derivación percutánea portosistémica intrahepática (DPPI), la reparación de los defectos diafragmáticos por videotoracoscopia asistida asociada a pleurodésis química y el uso de un catéter pleural tunelizado. No se recomienda la inserción de un tubo de tórax por su elevada morbilidad y mortalidad. El tratamiento definitivo del HH es el trasplante hepático el cual alcanza una excelente sobrevida. Presentamos tres casos de hidrotórax hepático con diferentes enfoques terapéuticos que incluyeron el manejo conservador con dieta y diuréticos, la inserción fallida de un tubo de tórax con pleurodesis y una DPPI.

Hepatic hydrothorax is uncommon transudative pleural effusion greater than 500 ml in association with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Ascites is also present in most of the patients and the pathophysiology include the passage of ascites fluid through small diaphragmatic defects. After diagnostic thoracentesis studies, the first line management is restricting sodium intake and diuretics combination including stepwise dose of spironolactone plus furosemide. Therapeutic thoracentesis is a simple and effective procedure to relief dyspnea. Hepatic hydrothorax is refractory in approximately 20-25% and treatments options include repeated thoracentesis, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) placement, chemical pleurodesis with repair diaphragmatic defects using video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS), and insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter. Chest tube insertion carries significant morbidity and mortality with questionable benefit. Hepatic transplantation remains the best treatment option with long term survival. We present three cases of hepatic hydrothorax with different therapeutic approach including first line management, failed chest tube insertion and TIPS placement.

Hepatic Hydrothorax.

Hepatic hydrothorax (HH) is a pleural effusion that develops in a patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension in the absence of cardiopulmonary disease. Although the development of HH remains incompletely understood, the most acceptable explanation is that the pleural effusion is a result of a direct passage of ascitic fluid into the pleural cavity through a defect in the diaphragm due to the raised abdominal pressure and the negative pressure within the pleural space. Patients with HH can be asymptomatic or present with pulmonary symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, hypoxemia, or respiratory failure associated with large pleural effusions. The diagnosis is established clinically by finding a serous transudate after exclusion of cardiopulmonary disease and is confirmed by radionuclide imaging demonstrating communication between the peritoneal and pleural spaces when necessary. Spontaneous bacterial empyema is serious complication of HH, which manifest by increased pleural fluid neutrophils or a positive bacterial culture and will require antibiotic therapy. The mainstay of therapy of HH is sodium restriction and administration of diuretics. When medical therapy fails, the only definitive treatment is liver transplantation. Therapeutic thoracentesis, indwelling tunneled pleural catheters, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and thoracoscopic repair of diaphragmatic defects with pleural sclerosis can provide symptomatic relief, but the morbidity and mortality is high in these extremely ill patients.

[Massive hydrothorax in a ease of hemolytic uremic syndrome: conservative treatment without interruption of peritoneal dialysis]. / Hidrotórax masivo en un caso de síndrome urémico hemolítico: tratamiento conservador sin interrupción de la diálisis peritoneal.

The hydrothorax is a known but rare complication of acute and chronic peritoneal dialysis. Patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome seem to be more prone to this complication. Usually discontinuation of treatment is necessary due to the lack of resolution or recurrence of hydrothorax and transfer to hemodialysis, but some patients can continue dialysis with modification of technique and with resolution of hydrothorax. CASE REPORT: a child with hemolytic uremic syndrome presented a massive hydrothorax during acute peritoneal dialysis which resolved with dialysis schema modification without interruption of treatment.

El hidrotórax es una complicación conocida pero infrecuente de la diálisis peritoneal aguda y crónica. Los pacientes con síndrome urémico hemolítico parecieran estar más predispuestos a esta complicación. Habitualmente, es necesaria la interrupción del procedimiento debido a la falta de resolución o recurrencia del hidrotórax y la transferencia a hemodiálisis. Sin embargo, algunos pacientes pueden continuar dializándose sin dificultad con alguna modificación de la técnica y resolución del hidrotórax. Se describe una niña con síndrome urémico hemolítico, que presentó un hidrotórax masivo durante la diálisis peritoneal aguda, que se resolvió con la modificación del esquema de diálisis sin interrupción del procedimiento.

When one port does not return blood: two case reports of rare causes for misplaced central venous catheters / Quando uma porta não apresenta retorno sanguíneo: relato de dois casos de causas raras de mau posicionamento de cateter venoso central

We present two cases of misplaced central venous catheters having in common theabsence of free blood return from one lumen immediately after placement. The former is acase of right hydrothorax associated with central venous catheterization with the catheter tipin intra-pleural location. In this case the distal port was never patent. In the latter case therewas an increased aspiration pressure through the middle port due to a catheter looping.The absence of free flow on aspiration from one lumen of a central catheter should not beundervalued. In these circumstances the catheter should not be used and needs to be removed.

Apresentamos dois casos de mau posicionamento de cateter venoso central. Têmem comum a ausência do retorno sanguíneo livre em um dos lúmens imediatamente após acolocac¸ão. O primeiro é um caso de hidrotórax direito associado ao cateterismo venoso central,com a ponta do cateter em localizac¸ão intrapleural. Nesse caso, a porta distal nunca estevepatente. No segundo caso houve um aumento da pressão de aspirac¸ão através da porta medialpor causa da formac¸ão de alc¸a no cateter.A ausência de fluxo livre na aspirac¸ão de um lúmen do cateter central não deve ser subesti-mada. Nessas circunstâncias, o cateter não deve ser usado e deve ser removido.

When one port does not return blood: two case reports of rare causes for misplaced central venous catheters.

We present two cases of misplaced central venous catheters having in common the absence of free blood return from one lumen immediately after placement. The former is a case of right hydrothorax associated with central venous catheterization with the catheter tip in intra-pleural location. In this case the distal port was never patent. In the latter case there was an increased aspiration pressure through the middle port due to a catheter looping. The absence of free flow on aspiration from one lumen of a central catheter should not be undervalued. In these circumstances the catheter should not be used and needs to be removed.

Hidrotórax hepático: cuando la evolución es la evidencia / Hepatic hydrothorax: when the patient's course is the evidence you need

Se analiza el caso clínico de un paciente de 61 años, alcoholista, con hidrotórax unilateral derecho y signos clínicos de insuficiencia hepatocítica crónica planteándose como etiología del derrame el hidrotórax hepático. A propósito de este caso clínico se discuten los criterios diagnósticos de esta entidad, forma de estudio, patrones evolutivos, complicaciones y la eficacia de las distintas opciones terapéuticas

Hidrotórax hepático: cuando la evolución es la evidencia / Hepatic hydrothorax: when the patient's course is the evidence you need

Se analiza el caso clínico de un paciente de 61 años, alcoholista, con hidrotórax unilateral derecho y signos clínicos de insuficiencia hepatocítica crónica planteándose como etiología del derrame el hidrotórax hepático. A propósito de este caso clínico se discuten los criterios diagnósticos de esta entidad, forma de estudio, patrones evolutivos, complicaciones y la eficacia de las distintas opciones terapéuticas

Clinical usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis of pleural effusions due to heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Light's criteria are frequently used to evaluate the exudative or transudative nature of pleural effusions. However, misclassification resulting from the use of Light's criteria has been reported, especially in the setting of diuretic use in patients with heart failure (HF). The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements as a diagnostic tool for determining the cardiac aetiology of pleural effusions. METHODS: Patients with pleural effusions attributable to HF (n = 34), hepatic hydrothorax (n = 10), pleural effusions due to cancer (n = 21) and pleural effusions due to tuberculosis (n = 12) were studied. Diagnostic thoracentesis was performed for all 77 patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of plasma BNP and pleural fluid BNP for the prediction of HF. RESULTS: The areas under the ROC curves were 0.987 (95% CI 0.93-0.998) for plasma BNP and 0.949 (95% CI 0.874-0.986) for pleural fluid BNP, for distinguishing between patients with pleural effusions caused by HF (n = 34) and those with pleural effusions attributable to other causes (n = 43). The cut-off concentrations with the highest diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of HF as the cause of pleural effusion were 132 pg/mL for plasma BNP (sensitivity 97.1%, specificity 97.4%) and 127 pg/mL for pleural fluid BNP (sensitivity 97.1%, specificity 87.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with pleural effusions of suspected cardiac origin, measurements of BNP in plasma and pleural fluid may be useful for the diagnosis of HF as the underlying cause.

Hepatic hydrothorax: current concepts of pathophysiology and treatment options.

Pleural effusions develop in 6-10% of patients with end-stage liver disease. Although, commonly seen in conjunction with ascites, isolated hepatic hydrothorax can occur in a small number of patients with cirrhosis. Refractory hepatic hydrothorax particularly poses a challenging therapeutic dilemma as treatment options are limited at best in these patients. Current patho-physiologic understanding of this disorder, as a cause, points towards the presence of diaphragmatic defects responsible for the shift of fluid from the peritoneal to the pleural cavity. When sodium restriction and diuretic treatment fail, liver transplantation remains the most definitive therapy in these refractory cases. However, transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS), or video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) repair of the diaphragmatic defects (with or without pleurodesis) are effective strategies in those who are not transplant candidates or those awaiting organ availability. Hepatic hydrothorax, especially when refractory to medical treatment, poses a challenging management dilemma. An early recognition and familiarity with available treatment modalities is crucial to effectively manage this exigent complication of cirrhosis.

Seudoquilotórax de causa no determinada: reporte de un caso / Pseudochylothorax of non determined causes: a case report

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 72 años con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial y acalasia de esófago de varios años de evolución que se le diagnosticó un seudoquilotórax de posible causa ideopática por tratarse de una enfermedad muy rara y que puede ser originada por múltiples desórdenes. Se destaca la clínica, el diagnóstico positivo y el diferencial; así como se enfatiza en la posible patogénesis de este tipo de enfermedad y en especial a esta paciente. Se señala la terapéutica especialmente el tratamiento no quirúrgico, así como el resultado obtenido en el estudio y los aplicados en esta entidad por otros autores(AU)

A 72 years-old patient was presented with antecedents of arterial hypertension and esophageal achalasia of several years of evolution that it was diagnosed a pseudochylothorax of possible idiopathic cause being about a very rare disease that may be originated by multiple disorders. The clinic, the differential and positive diagnosis are point out; as well as it emphasize in the possible pathogenesis in this type of disease and specially to this patient. The therapy mainly non surgical treatment is point out, also the result obtained in the study and the applied ones in this entity by other authors(AU)

Postemetic rupture of the esophagus: Boerhaave's syndrome.

Postemetic rupture of the esophagus, also known as spontaneous rupture or Boerhaave's syndrome, was first described by Herman Boerhaave in 1724. This is a severe disease that causes high mortality rates and is difficult to diagnose not only because it is rare but also because it is frequently confused with other severe clinical conditions, such as acute myocardial infarction, perforated peptic ulcer, and acute pancreatitis. Herein, we describe three cases of patients with this syndrome. Two underwent primary repair of the rupture, and one underwent esophagectomy followed by reconstruction. There was one death due to septic shock in the immediate postoperative period. The other two patients presented favorable long-term evolution.

Ruptura pós-emética do esôfago: a síndrome de Boerhaave / Postemetic rupture of the esophagus: Boerhaave's syndrome

A ruptura pós-emética do esôfago, também chamada ruptura espontânea ou síndrome de Boerhaave, foi descrita pela primeira vez em 1724 por Herman Boerhaave. Trata-se de uma doença grave, de alta mortalidade e de difícil diagnóstico, tanto por ser rara como por ser freqüentemente confundida com quadros graves mais comuns, como o infarto agudo do miocárdio, a úlcera péptica perfurada e a pancreatite aguda. Descrevemos, a seguir, três casos de pacientes com esta síndrome. Dois foram submetidos ao reparo primário da lesão e um foi submetido à esofagectomia com posterior reconstrução. Houve um óbito por choque séptico no pós-operatório imediato. Os outros dois casos tiveram boa evolução a longo prazo.

Postemetic rupture of the esophagus, also known as spontaneous rupture or Boerhaave's syndrome, was first described by Herman Boerhaave in 1724. This is a severe disease that causes high mortality rates and is difficult to diagnose not only because it is rare but also because it is frequently confused with other severe clinical conditions, such as acute myocardial infarction, perforated peptic ulcer, and acute pancreatitis. Herein, we describe three cases of patients with this syndrome. Two underwent primary repair of the rupture, and one underwent esophagectomy followed by reconstruction. There was one death due to septic shock in the immediate postoperative period. The other two patients presented favorable long-term evolution.

[Massive acute hydrothorax secondary to peritoneal dialysis in a hemolytic uremic syndrome. Report of a case]. / Hidrotórax agudo masivo secundario a diálisis peritoneal aguda en síndrome hemolítico urémico. Caso clínico.

Massive acute hydrothorax (MAH) is a severe and unusual noninfectious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). It can lead to acute respiratory failure and may diminish the effectiveness of the dialytic therapy. Many therapeutic strategies for this complication are employed, ranging from conservative methods like reduction of the volume of the dialysate and the transitory interruption of the PD, to more aggressive therapies as the closure of diaphragmatic defects by videothoracoscopy with or without pleurodesis. Herein, we report a two years old girl that developed acute renal failure due to an hemolytic uremic syndrome. She underwent PD and developed MAH. PD was temporarily ceased and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration was started. After 8 days, PD was resumed uneventfully. The temporary interruption of the PD was an effective measure to avoid the recurrence of the MAH.

Hidrotórax agudo masivo secundario a diálisis peritoneal aguda en síndrome hemolítico urémico: Caso clínico / Massive acute hydrothorax secondary to peritoneal dialysis in a hemolytic uremic syndrome: Report of one case

Massive acute hydrothorax (MAH) is a severe and unusual noninfectious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). It can lead to acute respiratory failure and may diminish the effectiveness of the dialytic therapy. Many therapeutic strategies for this complication are employed, ranging from conservative methods like reduction of the volume of the dialysate and the transitory interruption of the PD, to more aggressive therapies as the closure of diaphragmatic defects by videothoracoscopy with or without pleurodesis. Herein, we report a two years old girl that developed acute renal failure due to an hemolytic uremic syndrome. She underwent PD and developed MAH. PD was temporarily ceased and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration was started. After 8 days, PD was resumed uneventfully. The temporary interruption of the PD was an effective measure to avoid the recurrence of the MAH.