Respiratory Complication in Liver Disease

Crit Care Clin. 2016 Jul;32(3):357-69. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2016.03.002.

Abstract

Cirrhosis, the twelfth leading cause of death, accounts for 1.1% of all deaths in the United States. Although there are multiple pulmonary complications associated with liver disease, the most important complications that cause significant morbidity and mortality are hepatopulmonary syndrome, hepatic hydrothorax, and portopulmonary hypertension. Patients with cirrhosis who complain of dyspnea should be evaluated for these complications. This article reviews these complications.

Keywords: Chronic liver disease; Hepatic hydrothorax; Hepatopulmonary syndrome; Liver transplantation; Portopulmonary hypertension; Spontaneous bacterial pleuritis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Infections / complications
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / etiology
  • Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hydrothorax / diagnosis
  • Hydrothorax / etiology*
  • Hydrothorax / therapy
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / therapy*
  • Liver Diseases / complications*
  • Pleurisy / drug therapy
  • Pleurisy / etiology*