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Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences 11/2016

01-11-2016 | Original Article

Effectiveness and Safety of Pleurodesis for Hepatic Hydrothorax: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors: Feifei Hou, Xingshun Qi, Xiaozhong Guo

Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 11/2016

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Abstract

Background

Hepatic hydrothorax (HH) is a serious complication of end-stage liver diseases, which is associated with poor survival. There is no consensus regarding the treatment of HH.

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pleurodesis for HH in a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Methods

All relevant papers were searched on the EMBASE and PubMed databases. As for the data from the eligible case reports, the continuous data were expressed as the median (range) and the categorical data were expressed as the frequency (percentage). As for the data from the eligible case series, the rates of complete response and complications were pooled. The proportions with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by using random-effect model.

Results

Twenty case reports including 26 patients and 13 case series including 180 patients were eligible. As for the case reports, the median age was 55 years (range 7–78) and 15 patients were male. The prevalence of ascites was 76 % (19/25). Seventeen (65.38 %) patients responded favorably to pleurodesis. As for the case series, the mean age was 51.5–63.0 years and 83 patients were male. The pooled prevalence of ascites was 90 % (95 % CI 81–97 %) in 7 studies including 71 patients. The complete response rate after pleurodesis was reported in all studies, and the pooled rate was 72 % (95 % CI 65–79 %). Complications related to pleurodesis were reported in 6 studies including 63 patients, and the pooled rate was 82 % (95 % CI 66–94 %).

Conclusion

Pleurodesis may be a promising treatment for HH, but carries a high rate of complications.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Effectiveness and Safety of Pleurodesis for Hepatic Hydrothorax: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors
Feifei Hou
Xingshun Qi
Xiaozhong Guo
Publication date
01-11-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Digestive Diseases and Sciences / Issue 11/2016
Print ISSN: 0163-2116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2568
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-016-4260-9

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