Hydrothorax

Hydrothorax is a type of pleural effusion in which serous fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity. This specific condition can be related to cirrhosis with ascites in which ascitic fluid leaks into the pleural cavity. Hepatic hydrothorax is often difficult to manage in end-stage liver failure and often fails to respond to therapy.

In similar pleural effusions, the fluid is blood in hemothorax (as in major chest injuries), pus in pyothorax (resulting from chest infections), and lymph in chylothorax (resulting from rupture of the thoracic duct).

Treatment
Treatment of hydrothorax is difficult for several reasons. The underlying condition needs to be corrected; however, often the source of the hydrothorax is end stage liver disease and correctable only by transplant. Chest tube placement should not occur. Other measures such as a TIPS procedure are more effective as they treat the etiology of the hydrothorax, but have complications such as worsened hepatic encephalopathy.

Related links

 * Pleural effusion
 * Pneumothorax