VIDEOTHORACOSCOPIC TREATMENT OF HEPATIC HYDROTHORAX

Hepatic hydrothorax occurs frequently in ascites arising from communic ations in the diaphragm between peritoneal and pleural cavities, Numer ous treatments have been described but are of limited utility due to i nvasiveness and poor success fate. We describe a case of hepatic hydro thorax in which the pore in the diaphragm was documented photographica lly and in which successful resolution was achieved with videothoracos copic suture ligation and talc pleurodesis. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.