Study objective To determine indications, limitations, morbidity and mortality of surgical
thoracoscopy for management of hepatic hydrothorax, a rare, but often recurrent,
complication in cirrhotic patients. Patients and methods From May 1985 through May 1999,
10 men and 8 women, with a mean age of 57.6 years (range, 26 to 76 years), underwent 21
therapeutic thoracoscopies to achieve pleurodesis by application of talc. Results The
procedure was effective in 10 of 21 procedures. There were four recurrences (19.1%) that …