# Recurrent Left-Sided Hepatic Hydrothorax Leading to Liver-Mediated Dyspnea

## TL;DR

This paper presents a rare case of left-sided hepatic hydrothorax in a 70-year-old woman with cirrhosis, causing shortness of breath without ascites.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in reporting a rare left-sided hepatic hydrothorax case without ascites in a cirrhosis patient.

## Key findings

- Left-sided hepatic hydrothorax can occur in cirrhosis patients without ascites.
- Shortness of breath may be caused by hepatic hydrothorax in cirrhosis.
- This case highlights the need for broader diagnostic consideration in cirrhosis-related dyspnea.

## Abstract

Cirrhosis is a common liver condition caused by several etiologies including alcohol use disorder, infectious hepatitis, and metabolic dysfunction associated with liver disease. Although common symptomatic complications of cirrhosis include malaise, gastrointestinal bleeding, and abdominal distension, shortness of breath is a less common phenomenon that may occur. Hepatic hydrothorax (HH) is an uncommon cause of shortness of breath that is believed to be caused by the accumulation of ascitic fluid in the pleural space. While most cases of HH occur with ascites and the right side, we hereby present a case of a 70-year-old female with left-sided HH without ascites.