An unusual cause of pleural effusion, urinothorax in a child with urinary stone disease

Pediatr Nephrol. 2005 Oct;20(10):1487-9. doi: 10.1007/s00467-005-1949-y. Epub 2005 Jul 27.

Abstract

The association of obstructive uropathy with ascites has been known since 1863 and with pleural effusion since 1954. Urinothorax is a rare complication of blunt renal trauma, ureteral instrumentation or ureteral surgery. Leakage from the urinary tract may cause urinoma, retroperitoneal collection of fluid, which can lead to urinothorax. This case report describes a child with a massive right-sided pleural effusion that was caused by same-sided renal calculi. The effusion disappeared within a few days after adequate urinary drainage had been established.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Exudates and Transudates / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Effusion / etiology*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Thoracic Diseases / etiology*
  • Thoracic Diseases / metabolism*
  • Urinary Calculi / complications*
  • Urinary Calculi / diagnostic imaging
  • Urine*
  • Urography