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ROBERT W. IKARD, MD
Nashville, Tenn

Arch Surg. 1983;118(6):774.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—Hobbs et al (ARCHIVES 1982;117:1233-1234) described two cases of hydrothorax associated with massive ascites successfully managed by peritoneovenous shunt. Sawyers and I reported the opposite experience two years earlier in the same journal (ARCHIVES 1980;115:1125-1127). In that report, two cases of hydrothorax were not cured by the shunt, and invasive achievement of pleurodesis was necessary. An additional contrast with the cases of Hobbs et al is that both shunts in the first report were roentgenographically proved functionally intact.

Both reports agree that placing a peritoneojugular shunt is a reasonable maneuver if nonsurgical treatment of hydrothorax is unsuccessful. Enough cases have now been described to conclude that this may work. However, its efficacy is not predictable, and, as stated in our report, clearly "no noteworthy experience has been reported to establish how frequently the shunt might be successful in this situation." . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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