Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Rare Case Report

A 24-year-old female presented with complaints of distension of abdomen, lower limb swelling and shortness of breath. On examination, she had bilateral pedal oedema, tender mild hepatomegaly, bilateral pleural effusion and ascites. She had received treatment on lines of chronic liver disease, congestive heart failure but did not manifest any improvement. Laboratory investigations including haemogram, echocardiography and liver function testing were inconclusive. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of abdomen revealed obstruction at the junction of inferior vena cava and hepatic vein with pre-stenotic dilatation confirming the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome. She was treated with balloon dilatation from right femoral vein and the patient showed marked recovery with decrease in ascites and bilateral pleural effusion and improvement in dyspnoea and leg swelling.