Hahn MH. Acute massive postoperative pleural effusion associated with asymptomatic hepatitis C-induced cirrhosis of the liver.
Am J Med Sci 1997;
314:47-50. [PMID:
9216442 DOI:
10.1097/00000441-199707000-00011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The development of an acute pleural effusion during the immediate postoperative period after abdominal or pelvic surgery is not uncommon. In symptomatic patients, pleural effusions often are thought to result from a complication of pulmonary embolism or parapneumonic effusion. We present a patient in whom an acute unilateral hepatic hydrothorax developed after elective total abdominal hysterectomy. Pleural effusion continued to reaccumulate for several days. After extensive efforts failed to reveal the cause of effusion, intraperitoneal radioisotope study confirmed a peritoneopleural communication associated with unsuspected and asymptomatic hepatitis C-induced cirrhosis of the liver with portal hypertension.
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