International Clinical and Medical Case Reports Journal (ISSN: 2832-5788) | Volume 3, Issue 9 | Case Report | Open Access DOI

Silent Swells: Unraveling Hepatic Hydrothorax without Ascites in a case of Chronic Liver Disease

Debashis Priyadarshan Sahoo*

Debashis Priyadarshan Sahoo1*, Gwenette Andrea War2, Bikash Ranjan Rout3 1Senior resident, Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Guwahati, India

2Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Guwahati, India

3Junior Resident, Department of General Medicine, Barasat Government Medical College & Hospital (BGMCH), Banamalipur, Kolkata, India

*Correspondence to: Debashis Priyadarshan Sahoo 

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Abstract

Hepatic hydrothorax, commonly associated with chronic liver disease (CLD), typically presents alongside ascites due to portal hypertension. However, the occurrence of hepatic hydrothorax without ascites is an unusual and diagnostically challenging manifestation. This case report describes a 58-year-old male with a history of alcohol use disorder who presented with dyspnoea and pleural effusion in the absence of ascites. Diagnostic imaging and laboratory findings confirmed hepatic hydrothorax without any abdominal fluid accumulation, complicating the typical clinical picture of decompensated liver disease. Management included therapeutic thoracentesis and diuretic therapy, with successful resolution of symptoms. This case underscores the importance of considering hepatic hydrothorax in patients with CLD, even in the absence of ascites, and highlights the need for a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approach to improve patient outcomes.

Keywords:

Hepatic Hydrothorax, Chronic Liver Disease, Portal hypertension, Ascites

Citation:

Debashis Priyadarshan Sahoo, Gwenette Andrea War, Bikash Ranjan Rout. Silent Swells: Unraveling Hepatic Hydrothorax without Ascites in a case of Chronic Liver Disease. Int Clinc Med Case Rep Jour. 2024;3(9):1-8.