The First Finding of Cirrhosis: Hepatic Hydrothorax Caused by Absence of Ascites

AbstractHepatic hydrothorax is a pleural effusion occurs in cirrhotic patients without any cardiac and pulmonary disease. Generally it shows up in acidic cases. The most of the cases show up on the right side whereas it rarely shows up on the left and on both sides. Its treatments are salt restriction, diuretic medication and therapeutic thoracentesis. In resistant cases pleurodesis, videothoracoscopic repair of defects, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) as well as liver transplantation in end stage hepatic cirrhosis patients can be done. In this article, we presented a 54 year old female case with hepatic cirrhosis and hydrothorax without ascites, admitting to clinic because of dyspnea. Keywords: Cirrhosis, hepatic hydrothorax, ascite