Korean J Med.  1997 Aug;53(2):272-276.

A Case of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Due to Intrapulmonary Shunting in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis

• Park DY
• Cha SD
• Kim J
• Kim BG
• Yoo CG
• Sohn DW
• Lee HS
• Kim CY

Abstract

The hepatopulmonary syndrome is defined as the triad of liver disease, an increased alveolar-arterial gradient while breathing room air, and evidence of intrapulmonary dilatation. Other cardiopulmonary abnormalities(such as pleural effusion or decreased lung volumes) are common and may coexist in patients with the hepatopulmonary syndrome. An abnormal dilatation of intrapulmonary capillaries is evidenced by Tc 99m-MAA perfusion scan, contrast-enhanced echocardiography, and pulmonary angiography. We have experienced a case of hepatopulmonary syndrome in a fi7 year old woman with liver cirrhosis who complained of severe dyspnea and cyanosis. Her arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) showed severe hypoxemia(PaO2 59mmHg), suggesting the hepatopulmonary syndrome, which was confirmed with the contrast-enhanced echocardiography. It showed delayc4 opacification of left side chambers during agitated saline injection', thus, intrapulmonary shunt was confirmed. So we report a case of hepatopulmonary syndrome with a rewiew of literature.

Keyword

Hepatopulmonary syndrome; Intrapulmonary shunting; Liver cirrhosis

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Blood Gas Analysis
Capillaries
Cyanosis
Dihydroergotamine
Dilatation
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Female
Hepatopulmonary Syndrome*
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis*
Liver Diseases
Liver*
Lung
Perfusion
Pleural Effusion
Respiration
Dihydroergotamine