A rare pleural effusion in a young male

Thoracobiliary Fistula Complications Following Concomitant Diaphragm and Liver Injury

INTRODUCTION

Thoracobiliary fistula (TBF) is a rare and highly morbid complication of hepatic trauma. There is a paucity of literature regarding incidence, disease course, and treatment. This study identifies etiologic factors and outcome patterns in patients at risk for TBF.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients presenting with concern for trans-diaphragmatic bile leak over an 8-y period was performed at an urban level 1 trauma center. Early postinjury deaths were excluded. Records were reviewed for presence of a delayed bile leak. Patient characteristics with concern for (No-TBF) and confirmed fistula (TBF) were compared using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U-tests. The disease courses of patients with TBF were further examined.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 118 patients with concomitant right diaphragm and liver injury were reviewed, of these 114 patients (96.6%) survived longer than 72 h. Four patients developed TBF (3.5%). Patients with TBF were younger (P = 0.01) and had trends toward less frequent liver repair (P = 0.061) or concomitant liver and diaphragm repair (P = 0.061). Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for retained hemothorax was associated with increased risk of TBF (P = 0.005). Patients with TBF were significantly more likely to develop infectious complications such as sepsis, pneumonia, or complicated parapneumonic effusion (P < 0.001). Treatment of TBF included endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, sphincterotomy, and stent placement.

CONCLUSIONS

Although TBF incidence is low, patients with concomitant right hemidiaphragm and liver trauma may be at higher risk for developing TBF without prompt and definitive operative intervention. This injury is characterized by infectious complications requiring further interventional treatment and monitoring.

Bilothorax: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review of the Rare Entity

Background

Bilothorax is defined as the presence of bile in the pleural space. It is a rare condition, and diagnosis is confirmed with a pleural fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio of >1.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and CINAHL databases were searched using predetermined Boolean parameters. The systematic literature review was done per PRISMA guidelines. Retrospective studies, case series, case reports, and conference abstracts were included. The patients with reported pleural fluid analyses were pooled for fluid parameter data analysis.

Results

Of 838 articles identified through the inclusion criteria and removing 105 duplicates, 732 articles were screened with abstracts, and 285 were screened for full article review. After this, 123 studies qualified for further detailed review, and of these, 115 were pooled for data analysis. The mean pleural fluid and serum bilirubin levels were 72 mg/dL and 61 mg/dL, respectively, with a mean pleural fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio of 3.47. In most cases, the bilothorax was reported as a subacute or remote complication of hepatobiliary surgery or procedure, and traumatic injury to the chest or abdomen was the second most common cause. Tube thoracostomy was the main treatment modality (73.83%), followed by serial thoracentesis. Fifty-two patients (51.30%) had associated bronchopleural fistulas. The mortality was considerable, with 18/115 (15.65%) reported death. Most of the patients with mortality had advanced hepatobiliary cancer and were noted to die of complications not related to bilothorax.

Conclusion

Bilothorax should be suspected in patients presenting with pleural effusion following surgical manipulation of hepatobiliary structures or a traumatic injury to the chest. This review is registered with CRD42023438426.

Massive hemothorax due to intercostal arterial bleeding after percutaneous catheter removal in a multiple-trauma patient: A case report

BACKGROUND

Intercostal arterial bleeding is unusual complication of percutaneous chest procedures. However, intercostal arterial bleeding is likely to result in critical complications such as abnormalities in vital signs, hypovolemic shock, and death due to massive bleeding. Therefore, it is very important to establish the diagnosis of intercostal arterial bleeding and to initiate treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a case in which a 59-year-old woman who was hospitalized at intensive care unit with multiple trauma had a massive hemothorax after the removal of a percutaneous catheter. She sustained a refractory right pleural effusion due to biloma caused by a traumatic injury to the liver, despite persistent intraperitoneal drainage. As a result, atelectasis persisted in the dependent portion of the right lung. Therefore, we performed right percutaneous catheter drainage (8.5-F pigtail catheter) for pleural effusion drainage at the 7^th intercostal space. After percutaneous catheter removal, portable chest radiography and vital signs of the patient assisted in establishing a diagnosis of intercostal arterial bleeding. Intercostal arterial bleeding was also confirmed using transarterial angiography; and embolization was performed. The patient’s condition progressively improved, and no further intervention was required.

CONCLUSION

Massive hemothorax is a rare complication of percutaneous catheter removal. Clinicians should carefully examine and diagnose patients to improve prognosis. And interventional selective angiography may be a feasible and minimally invasive treatment for intercostal arterial bleeding control.