Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Huang, P-M
• Kuo, S-W
• Lee, J-M

Titel

Thoracoscopic diaphragmatic repair for refractory hepatic hydrothorax: application of pleural flap and mesh onlay reinforcement

Ist Teil von

• The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, 2006-02, Vol.54 (1), p.47

Ort / Verlag

Germany

Erscheinungsjahr

2006

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Management of hepatic hydrothorax is difficult, and no radical treatment has been established. Based on accumulating evidence that diaphragmatic defects contribute to hepatic hydrothorax, we developed a diaphragmatic repair method for the management of this complex condition. From October 2003 to March 2005, 10 patients (age, 32 - 83 years; 6 men and 4 women) with refractory hepatic hydrothorax (Child-Pugh class B-C) underwent thoracoscopic pleura (n = 7) or mesh (n = 3) onlay reinforcement to repair the diaphragmatic defects on which this study focuses, and all patients have since been under follow-up in a prospective observation study. After a mean of 7.7 months of follow-up examinations, no local recurrence occurred in all patients. Two patients died of hemorrhage from esophageal varices two months postoperatively. All patients had a better postoperative pulmonary function. The use of pleura and mesh onlay reinforcement of the diaphragm is an encouraging treatment for refractory hepatic hydrothorax.