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Gallo A, Dedionigi C, Civitelli C, Panzeri A, Corradi C, Squizzato A. Optimal Management of Cirrhotic Ascites: A Review for Internal Medicine Physicians. J Transl Int Med 2020; 8:220-236. [PMID: 33511049 PMCID: PMC7805288 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2020-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical history of liver cirrhosis is characterised by two phases: the asymptomatic phase, also termed 'compensated cirrhosis', and the phase of complications due to the development of portal hypertension and liver dysfunction, also termed 'decompensated cirrhosis', in which patients may develop ascites, the most frequent and clinically relevant complication of liver cirrhosis. Ascites can be classified into uncomplicated and complicated according to the development of refractoriness, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) or the association with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). In this narrative review, we will extensively discuss the optimal pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of cirrhotic ascites with the aim to offer an updated practical guide to Internal Medicine physicians. According to the amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity, uncomplicated ascites is graded from 1 to 3, and the cornerstone of its management consists of restriction of salt intake, diuretics and large-volume paracentesis (LVP); in recent years, long-term administration of human albumin has acquired a new interesting role. Refractory ascites is primarily managed with LVP and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement in selected patients. The occurrence of renal impairment, especially HRS, worsens the prognosis of patients with cirrhotic ascites and deserves a specific treatment. Also, the management of SBP faces the rising and alarming spread of antibiotic resistance. Hepatic hydrothorax may even complicate the course of the disease and its management is a challenge. Last but not least, liver transplantation (LT) is the ultimate and more effective measure to offer to patients with cirrhotic ascites, particularly when complications occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gallo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Como/Varese, Italy
| | - Cristina Dedionigi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Como/Varese, Italy
| | - Chiara Civitelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Como/Varese, Italy
| | - Anna Panzeri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Como/Varese, Italy
- Hepatology Center, Ospedale Sant’Anna, Como, Italy
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Chaaban T, Kanj N, Bou Akl I. Hepatic Hydrothorax: An Updated Review on a Challenging Disease. Lung 2019; 197:399-405. [PMID: 31129701 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-019-00231-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic hydrothorax is a challenging complication of cirrhosis related to portal hypertension with an incidence of 5-11% and occurs most commonly in patients with decompensated disease. Diagnosis is made through thoracentesis after excluding other causes of transudative effusions. It presents with dyspnea on exertion and it is most commonly right sided. Pathophysiology is mainly related to the direct passage of fluid from the peritoneal cavity through diaphragmatic defects. In this updated literature review, we summarize the diagnosis, clinical presentation, epidemiology and pathophysiology of hepatic hydrothorax, then we discuss a common complication of hepatic hydrothorax, spontaneous bacterial pleuritis, and how to diagnose and treat this condition. Finally, we elaborate all treatment options including chest tube drainage, pleurodesis, surgical intervention, Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt and the most recent evidence on indwelling pleural catheters, discussing the available data and concluding with management recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toufic Chaaban
- Neurocritical Care Fellowship, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nadim Kanj
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El Solh, PO Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Imad Bou Akl
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El Solh, PO Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Silva Cruz C, Tosatto V, Nascimento PO, Barata Moura R. Hepatic hydrothorax: indwelling catheter-related Acinetobacter radioresistens infection. BMJ Case Rep 2019; 12:12/3/e227635. [PMID: 30878955 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2018-227635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic hydrothorax, a rare and debilitating complication of cirrhosis, carries high morbidity and mortality. First-line treatment consists of dietary sodium restriction and diuretic therapy. Some patients, mainly those who are refractory to medical management, will require invasive pleural drainage. The authors report the case of a 76-year-old man in a late cirrhotic stage of alcoholic chronic liver disease, presenting with recurrent right-sided hepatic hydrothorax, portal hypertension, hepatosplenomegaly and thrombocytopaenia. After recurrent admissions and complications, the potential for adjusting diuretic therapy was limited. After unsuccessful talc pleurodesis, an indwelling tunnelled pleural catheter was placed with effective symptomatic control. One month later, the patient was readmitted with empyema due to Acinetobacter radioresistens Despite optimised medical and surgical treatment, the patient died 4 weeks later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Silva Cruz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, EPE - Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Valentina Tosatto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, EPE - Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Paula Oliveira Nascimento
- Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, EPE - Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Barata Moura
- Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, EPE - Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisboa, Portugal
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Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Lv
- Department of Liver Diseases and Digestive Interventional Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Guohong Han
- Department of Liver Diseases and Digestive Interventional Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Daiming Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
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Kniese C, Diab K, Ghabril M, Bosslet G. Indwelling Pleural Catheters in Hepatic Hydrothorax: A Single-Center Series of Outcomes and Complications. Chest 2018; 155:307-314. [PMID: 29990479 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment of hepatic hydrothorax (HH) generally involves sodium restriction, diuretics, and serial thoracentesis. In more advanced cases, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and liver transplantation may be required. Previously, indwelling tube drainage has been avoided due to concerns regarding high complication rates and overall poor outcomes. Recently, indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) have been proposed as a novel treatment option for HH. METHODS This study was a retrospective review of patients who had undergone IPC placement for HH over a 10-year period at a large liver transplant referral center. We tracked outcomes, including complication rates and liver transplantation, as well as biomarkers of nutritional status. RESULTS Sixty-two patients underwent IPC placement between 2007 and 2017, with 33 IPCs (53%) placed as a bridge to liver transplantation. Complications were recorded in 22 patients (36%); empyema was the most common, diagnosed in 10 patients (16.1%). Ten patients evaluated for liver transplantation underwent successful transplantation following IPC placement. There were statistically significant decreases in both BMI and serum albumin levels following IPC placement. CONCLUSIONS IPCs represent a potential treatment for refractory HH and should be used with caution in patients eligible for liver transplantation. Ideally, IPC use for these patients would be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. IPC use may lead to small decreases in BMI and serum albumin levels in patients over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Kniese
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Occupational Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
| | - Khalil Diab
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Occupational Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Marwan Ghabril
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Gabriel Bosslet
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Occupational Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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Patil M, Dhillon SS, Attwood K, Saoud M, Alraiyes AH, Harris K. Management of Benign Pleural Effusions Using Indwelling Pleural Catheters: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Chest 2016; 151:626-635. [PMID: 27845052 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Revised: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The indwelling pleural catheter (IPC), which was initially introduced for the management of recurrent malignant effusions, could be a valuable management option for recurrent benign pleural effusion (BPE), replacing chemical pleurodesis. The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy and safety of IPC use in the management of refractory nonmalignant effusions. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the published literature. Retrospective cohort studies, case series, and reports that used IPCs for the management of pleural effusion were included in the study. RESULTS Thirteen studies were included in the analysis, with a total of 325 patients. Congestive heart failure (49.8%) was the most common cause of BPE requiring IPC placement. The estimated average rate of spontaneous pleurodesis was 51.3% (95% CI, 37.1%-65.6%). The estimated average rate of all complications was 17.2% (95% CI, 9.8%-24.5%) for the entire group. The estimated average rate of major complications included the following: empyema, 2.3% (95% CI, 0.0%-4.7%); loculation, 2.0% (95% CI, 0.0%-4.7%); dislodgement, 1.3% (95% CI, 0.0%-3.7%); leakage, 1.3% (95% CI, 0.0%-3.5%); and pneumothorax, 1.2% (95% CI, 0.0%-4.1%). The estimated average rate of minor complications included the following: skin infection, 2.7% (95% CI, 0.6%-4.9%); blockage and drainage failure, 1.1% (95% CI, 0.0%-3.5%); subcutaneous emphysema, 1.1% (95% CI, 0.0%-4.0%); and other, 2.5% (95% CI, 0.0%-5.2%). One death was directly related to IPC use. CONCLUSIONS IPCs are an effective and viable option in the management of patients with refractory BPE. The quality of evidence to support IPC use for BPE remains low, and high-quality studies such as randomized controlled trials are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monali Patil
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
| | - Samjot Singh Dhillon
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Interventional Pulmonary Section, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
| | - Kristopher Attwood
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
| | - Marwan Saoud
- Department of Internal Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
| | - Abdul Hamid Alraiyes
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Interventional Pulmonary Section, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
| | - Kassem Harris
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Interventional Pulmonary Section, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY.
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Al-Zoubi RK, Abu Ghanimeh M, Gohar A, Salzman GA, Yousef O. Hepatic hydrothorax: clinical review and update on consensus guidelines. Hosp Pract (1995) 2016; 44:213-223. [PMID: 27580053 DOI: 10.1080/21548331.2016.1227685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic Hydrothorax (HH) is defined as a pleural effusion greater than 500 ml in association with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. It is an uncommon complication of cirrhosis, most frequently seen in association with decompensated liver disease. The development of HH remains incompletely understood and involves a complex pathophysiological process with the most acceptable explanation being the passage of the ascetic fluid through small diaphragmatic defects. Given the limited capacity of the pleural space, even the modest pleural effusion can result in significant respiratory symptoms. The diagnosis of HH should be suspected in any patient with established cirrhosis and portal hypertension presenting with unilateral pleural effusion especially on the right side. Diagnostic thoracentesis should be performed in all patients with suspected HH to confirm the diagnosis and rule out infection and alternative diagnoses. Spontaneous bacterial empyema and spontaneous bacterial pleuritis can complicate HH and increase morbidity and mortality. HH can be difficult to treat and in our review below we will list the therapeutic modalities awaiting the evaluation for the only definitive therapy, which is liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Khazar Al-Zoubi
- a School of Medicine Ringgold standard institution - Pulmonary & Critical Care , University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine , Kansas City , MO , USA
| | - Mouhanna Abu Ghanimeh
- b School of Medicine Ringgold standard institution - Internal Medicine , University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine , Kansas City , MO , USA
| | - Ashraf Gohar
- c School of Medicine - Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine , University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine , Kansas City , MO , USA
| | - Gary A Salzman
- c School of Medicine - Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine , University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine , Kansas City , MO , USA
| | - Osama Yousef
- d School of Medicine - Gastroenterology Medicine , University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine , Kansas City , MO , USA
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