Hepatic hydrothorax after blunt chest trauma.

Abstract

We report a successful treatment result in a rare case of hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis, who had sustained hydrothorax after blunt thoracoabdominal trauma. This was a female patient with liver cirrhosis, Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A, without ascites before injury. She sustained blunt thoracoabdominal trauma with a left clavicle fracture dislocation and right rib fractures. There was no hemopneumothorax at initial presentation. However, dyspnea and right pleural effusion developed gradually. We inserted a chest tube to relieve the patient's symptoms, and the daily drainage amount remained consistent. Hepatic hydrothorax was confirmed by the intraperitoneal injection of radioisotope 99mTc-sulfur colloid that demonstrated one-way transdiaphragmatic flow of fluid from the peritoneal cavity to pleural cavities. Finally, the hydrothorax was treated successfully by minocycline-induced pleural symphysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of hepatic hydrothorax developed after thoracoabdominal trauma.

• Authors: Shang-Chiung Wang, Chih-I Chen, Chen-Chi Liu, Chien-Ying Wang, Isaac Chun-Jen Chen, Mu-Shun Huang
• Journal: Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA (J Chin Med Assoc) Vol. 75 Issue 8 Pg. 413-5 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1728-7731 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22901727 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Topics

• Aged
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrothorax (etiology)
• Liver Diseases (etiology)
• Thoracic Injuries (complications)
• Wounds, Nonpenetrating (complications)