Ascites is the accumulation of extra fluid within the abdominal cavity, specifically between the thin lining protecting the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. According to Hepatitis Central, an educational website devoted to hepatitis C information, ascites can be caused by many different disease processes but it is most commonly a result of chronic liver disease.
Signs and Symptoms
The University of Maryland Medical Center states the most common sign of ascites is a swollen stomach. Hepatitis Central lists the following signs of ascites: bulging flanks or lower abdomen swelling, fluid wave or movement of fluid in the lower abdominal flank area, a positive puddle sign or fluid sounds in the abdomen and a tympany sound over the abdomen when tapped.
Associated Disorders
Medline Plus, a website maintained by the National Institutes of Health, states ascites can be related to several disorders. The following conditions may have the side effect of ascites: cirrhosis, liver vein clots, colon, pancreas and liver cancers, congestive heart failure, pericarditis or inflammation of the lining around the heart, hepatitis, tuberculosis, kidney disorders, ovarian or endometrial cancer, pancreatitis and kidney dialysis. The University of Maryland Medical Center states ascites can result from severe liver disease due to the increased pressure on the organ and its surrounding blood vessels. This high pressure is referred to as portal hypertension.
Tests
A health care provider will perform multiple tests to determine the presence of ascites, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A health professional may complete the following medical exams: complete physical assessment, kidney function tests including blood and urine tests such as creatinine and electrolyte analysis, simple urinalysis, 24-hour urine collection and a paracentesis or an extraction of fluid from the abdominal cavity.
Treatment
The University of Maryland Medical Center states a health care provider will first treat the underlying cause of ascites whenever possible. Specific treatments for acites include diuretics or medications that help remove excess fluid from the body, antibiotics if infection is present and a low-salt, no-alcohol diet. More invasive treatments may include inserting a tube into the abdomen to remove the fluid or placing a shunt (diversion) at the liver to redirect the blood flow. Patients with conditions leading to liver failure may have to receive a liver transplant.
Complications
Complications of ascites include a life-threatening infection of the excess fluid called spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, kidney failure, weight loss, poor nutrition, confusion, decrease in awareness and coma, according to Medline Plus. The University of Maryland Medical Centers states any patient with ascites should immediately notify a health care provider if a fever or new stomach pain occurs.
