Vernna Dee Marie Familar, Pauline Convocar, Faith Joan Gaerlan

INTRODUCTION

Tension hydrothorax is a rare condition with no known incidence reported in the Philippines.

It is a massive pleural effusion associated with hemodynamic compromise due to compression of mediastinal structures brought about by increased intrathoracic pressure impeding the venous return thereby decreasing cardiac output hence mimicking a cardiac tamponade physiology.

This condition if left untreated will eventually cause cardiopulmonary and respiratory insult leading to death.

CASE REPORT

A case of a 51 year old female presenting with malignant tension hydrothorax at the Emergency Department where chest tube thoracostomy was immediately done after point-of-care ultrasonography was performed.

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of the physician about this condition, early detection upon presentation of the patient at the Emergency Room, proper training on point-of-care ultrasound, as well as, in-depth training on performing the procedures (thoracentesis and tube thoracostomy) constitute the crucial management of tension hydrothorax.