Letters To The Editor
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2007; 13(46): 6284-6285
Published online Dec 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i46.6284
Hepatic hydrothorax occurring rapidly after manual abdominal compression
Kazufumi Dohmen, Hirofumi Tanaka, Masatora Haruno, Yoshiyuki Niho
Kazufumi Dohmen, Hirofumi Tanaka, Masatora Haruno, Yoshiyuki Niho, Internal Medicine, Chihaya Hospital, Fukuoka 813-8501, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Kazufumi Dohmen, Internal Medicine, Chihaya Hospital, 2-30-1 Chihaya Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 813-8501, Japan. dohmen-kzfm@cool.odn.ne.jp
Telephone: +81-92-6612211 Fax: +81-92-6830411
Received: August 22, 2007
Revised: September 10, 2007
Accepted: October 23, 2007
Published online: December 14, 2007
Abstract

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.

Keywords: Hydrothorax; Liver cirrhosis; Abdominal compression