STUDY OF THORACIC COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis and its complications are a leading cause of death among adults. The diseased liver leads to many deleterious effects on multiple organ systems, including the pulmonary system. Objective: To determine the types and frequency of pulmonary complications in patients with liver cirrhosis and to assess the relation between the incidence of pulmonary complications and severity of liver cirrhosis according to Child-Pugh Score. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study that conducted on 100 cirrhotic patients. The study was carried in the period from January 2018 till February 2019, Patients included in this study were classified according to their Pugh score into class A with 71 patients, class B with 15 patients and class C with 14 patients. This study was conducted in Dekernes general hospital and Dekernes chest hospital/ Dakahlia Governorate. Results: 58% of the included patients were females and 42% of them were males. Their ages ranged from 38 to 77 years with a mean age of 56.24 ±9.39 years. The main findings of this study were that 65% of the liver cirrhosis patients had associated co-morbidities. Pulmonary complications in these patients were presented as cough, dyspnea, fever and dyspnea with wheezes. Hospitalization was needed in 12% of them for management of pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchial asthma and pleural effusion. 100% of the patients were HCV positive and by the end of the study 100% of the patients survived. When patients were classified based on Pugh score, those groups showed statistically significant differences as regards associated co-morbidities, incidence of jaundice at presentation, degree of ascites, results of investigations as well as incidence of different types of pulmonary complications. Conclusion: Liver cirrhosis was associated with unique pulmonary complications, which differ in incidence with progression of the disease.