An unusual case of urinothorax after percutaneous nephrostolithotomy

• Main Authors: Diana Dregoesc, Rachel Kelley, David Lick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
• Subjects: Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy; phenazopyridine; pleural effusion; urinothorax
• Online Access: http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2019;volume=8;issue=6;spage=2155;epage=2157;aulast=Dregoesc

We present here a case of severe dyspnea after a percutaneous nephrostolithotomy, which resulted from an urinothorax, an uncommon complication of posturological procedures. Chest X-ray indicated a significant left pleural effusion, and a diagnosis was confirmed by the pleural fluid analysis. Chest tube placement did not improve the patient's clinical status; retrograde pyelogram was performed, and a stent was placed in the left ureter orifice where a narrowing was discovered. Correcting the cause of the urinothorax is the key in such cases of severe pleural effusions as seen in our case.