Los derrames pleurales masivos (DPM), recidivantes e inveterados que acompañan a la cirrosis hepática, representan el 12,3% (27/218) de los derrames pleurales benignos y constituyen un problema terapéutico importante, ya que requieren numerosas toracocentesis evacuadoras.
En nuestra serie hemos revisado 27 casos de los cuales el 74% (20/27) cursaban con ascitis y el 26% (7/27) sin ella. Es interesante soslayar que al 25% de los DPM asociados a ascitis, se les practicó una laparocentesis evacuadora previa, mientras que el 75% restante fueron compensados con tratamiento médico previamente a la pleurodesis. La pleurodesis con talco resultó ser efectiva en un 48% (13/27), con una mortalidad nula.
Massive relapsing and persistent pleural effusions (MPE) associated with hepatic cirrhosis represent 12,3% (27/218) of benign pleural effusions and constitute an iniportant therapeutic problem, as they require frequent thoracocentesis for their removal.
In the present series we reviewed 27 cases, 74% of which (20/27) were associated with ascites and 26% (7/ 27) were not. Interestingly, a previous laparocentesis was carried out for removal of fluid in 25% of MPEs associated with ascites, whereas the remaining 75% were compensated with medical therapy before pleurodesis was effective in 48% (13/27), with no mortality.
