Urinothorax: An uncommon cause of pleural effusion

Received 9 December 2008; accepted 12 January 2009.

Abstract

Urinothorax is a rare cause of pleural effusion, and is typically the result of either obstructive uropathy or injury to the kidney or urinary tract. We report a case of a man who developed a right-sided urinothorax following percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and briefly discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of this uncommon problem.

Keywords: Urinothorax, Urinary fistula, Pleural effusion, Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

NY Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia, Surgery, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, MHB – 7GS Room 313, New York, NY 10032, USA

Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 6467294999.

PII: S1755-0017(09)00008-6

doi:10.1016/j.rmedc.2009.01.009

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