Ascites: Difference between revisions

(Marked this version for translation)
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
==Background==
<languages/>
<translate>
 
==Background== <!--T:1-->
 
<!--T:2-->
[[File:Scheme body cavities-en.png|thumb|Lateral view showing abdominopelvic cavity.]]
*Abnormal buildup of peritoneal fluid
*Abnormal buildup of peritoneal fluid
*Most commonly caused by portal hypertension
*Ascites fluid can become infected (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), carrying a mortality rate between 30%-90%<ref>Sundaram V, Manne V, Al-Osaimi AM. Ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: recommendations from two United States centers. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(5):279-287. doi:10.4103/1319-3767.141686</ref>
===Causes=== <!--T:3-->


===Causes===
<!--T:4-->
*[[Cirrhosis]] 81%<ref>Runyon BA. Care of patients with ascites. N Eng J Med. 1994; 330: 337-342.</ref>
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Cirrhosis|Cirrhosis]] 81%<ref>Runyon BA. Care of patients with ascites. N Eng J Med. 1994; 330: 337-342.</ref>
*Malignancy 10%
*Malignancy 10%
*[[Heart failure]] 3%
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Heart failure|Heart failure]] 3%
*[[Tuberculosis]] 2%
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Tuberculosis|Tuberculosis]] 2%
*Other 4%
*Other 4%


==Clinical Features==
 
[[File:Hepaticfailure.jpg|thumb||Ascites secondary to [[cirrhosis]].]]
==Clinical Features== <!--T:5-->
*Abdominal distention +/- discomfort
 
<!--T:6-->
[[File:Hepaticfailure.jpg|thumb||[[Special:MyLanguage/Ascites|Ascites]] secondary to [[Special:MyLanguage/cirrhosis|cirrhosis]].]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Abdominal distention|Abdominal distention]] +/- discomfort
*Fluid wave
*Fluid wave
*+/- [[SOB]] if massive amount
*+/- [[Special:MyLanguage/SOB|SOB]] if massive amount
 


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis== <!--T:7-->
 
</translate>
{{DDX abdominal distention}}
{{DDX abdominal distention}}
<translate>
</translate>
{{Hepatomegaly DDX}}
<translate>




==Evaluation== <!--T:8-->


{{Ascites DDX}}
<!--T:9-->
 
==Evaluation==
[[File:Auscities.png|thumb|Ascites appearance on ultrasound]]
[[File:Auscities.png|thumb|Ascites appearance on ultrasound]]
[[File:Ascites Alerhand.gif|thumbnail|POCUS showing ascites<ref>http://www.thepocusatlas.com/bowel/</ref>]]
[[File:Ascites Alerhand.gif|thumbnail|POCUS showing ascites<ref>http://www.thepocusatlas.com/bowel/</ref>]]
[[File:CirrhosisWithAscitesMark.png|thumb|Liver cirrhosis with ascites on CT]]
[[File:CirrhosisWithAscitesMark.png|thumb|Liver cirrhosis with ascites on CT]]
*Ascites in females with no other reason for it = gyn neoplasm until proven otherwise (ovarian cancer)
''Ascites in females with no other reason for it = gynecologic neoplasm until proven otherwise (ovarian cancer)''
 


===Workup===
===Workup=== <!--T:10-->
 
<!--T:11-->
*CBC
*CBC
*Chem 7
*Chem 7
*PT/PTT
*PT/PTT
*[[LFTs]] + lipase
*[[Special:MyLanguage/LFTs|LFTs]] + lipase
*[[FAST]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/FAST|FAST]]
 
 
====Ascites Fluid Workup==== <!--T:12-->


===Ascites Fluid Workup===
<!--T:13-->
*Cell count and differential
*Cell count and differential
*Albumin
*Albumin
*Total protein
*Total protein
*Only if suspicious:<ref name=Runyon2012>Runyon BA. Management of adult patients with ascites due to cirrhosis: update 2012. Amer Assoc Study Liv Dis. 2012; 1-96.</ref>
*Only if suspicious:<ref name=Runyon2012>Runyon BA. Management of adult patients with ascites due to cirrhosis: update 2012. Amer Assoc Study Liv Dis. 2012; 1-96.</ref>
**[[Gram stain]]
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Gram stain|Gram stain]]
**Glucose
**Glucose
**LDH
**LDH
Line 48: Line 74:
**Triglyceride
**Triglyceride


==Management==
</translate>
{{Ascites Evaluation}}
<translate>
 
 
==Management== <!--T:14-->
 
<!--T:15-->
*Salt restriction
*Salt restriction
**Effective in about 15% of patients
**Effective in about 15% of patients
*[[Diuretics]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Diuretics|Diuretics]]
**[[Spironolactone]]
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Spironolactone|Spironolactone]]
***Starting dose = 100mg/day PO (max 400mg/day)
***Starting dose = 100mg/day PO (max 400mg/day)
***40% of patients will respond  
***40% of patients will respond  
**[[Furosemide]]
**[[Special:MyLanguage/Furosemide|Furosemide]]
***40mg/day PO (max 160mg/day)
***40mg/day PO (max 160mg/day)
***Ratio of 100:40 with spironolactone (reduces risks of potassium prob)
***Ratio of 100:40 with spironolactone (reduces risks of potassium prob)
*Water restriction
*Water restriction
*[[Paracentesis]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Paracentesis|Paracentesis]]
*Consider liver transplantation and shunting
*Consider liver transplantation and shunting


==Disposition==
*Frequently outpatient, once [[SBP]] is ruled out, if a known reason for ascites and sufficiently therapeutically drained


==Complications==
==Disposition== <!--T:16-->
*[[SBP]]
 
*[[Hepatorenal syndrome]]
<!--T:17-->
*[[Pleural effusion]]
*Frequently outpatient, once [[Special:MyLanguage/SBP|SBP]] is ruled out, if a known reason for ascites and sufficiently therapeutically drained
 
 
==Complications== <!--T:18-->
 
<!--T:19-->
*[[Special:MyLanguage/SBP|SBP]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Hepatorenal syndrome|Hepatorenal syndrome]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Pleural effusion|Pleural effusion]]
 
 
==See Also== <!--T:20-->
 
<!--T:21-->
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Jaundice|Jaundice]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Paracentesis|Paracentesis]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/SBP|SBP]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Cirrhosis|Cirrhosis]]
*[[Special:MyLanguage/Acute hepatic failure|Acute hepatic failure]]
 


==See Also==
==References== <!--T:22-->
*[[Jaundice]]
*[[Paracentesis]]
*[[SBP]]
*[[Cirrhosis]]


==References==
<!--T:23-->
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:GI]]
[[Category:GI]]
[[Category:Symptoms]]
[[Category:Symptoms]]
</translate>

Latest revision as of 20:35, 6 January 2026

Other languages:

Background

Lateral view showing abdominopelvic cavity.
  • Abnormal buildup of peritoneal fluid
  • Most commonly caused by portal hypertension
  • Ascites fluid can become infected (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), carrying a mortality rate between 30%-90%[1]


Causes


Clinical Features

Ascites secondary to cirrhosis.


Differential Diagnosis

Abdominal distention

Hepatic Dysfunction

Infectious

Neoplastic

Metabolic

Biliary

  • Biliary cirrhosis

Drugs

Miscellaneous


Evaluation

Ascites appearance on ultrasound
POCUS showing ascites[4]
Liver cirrhosis with ascites on CT

Ascites in females with no other reason for it = gynecologic neoplasm until proven otherwise (ovarian cancer)


Workup


Ascites Fluid Workup

  • Cell count and differential
  • Albumin
  • Total protein
  • Only if suspicious:[5]
    • Gram stain
    • Glucose
    • LDH
    • Amylase
    • AFB smear and culture
    • Cytology
    • Triglyceride

Ascites Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of ascites is often clarified by the calculation of the serum albumin to ascites gradient (SAAG).^

^SAAG = (serum albumin in g/dL) − (ascitic albumin in g/dL)


Management

  • Salt restriction
    • Effective in about 15% of patients
  • Diuretics
    • Spironolactone
      • Starting dose = 100mg/day PO (max 400mg/day)
      • 40% of patients will respond
    • Furosemide
      • 40mg/day PO (max 160mg/day)
      • Ratio of 100:40 with spironolactone (reduces risks of potassium prob)
  • Water restriction
  • Paracentesis
  • Consider liver transplantation and shunting


Disposition

  • Frequently outpatient, once SBP is ruled out, if a known reason for ascites and sufficiently therapeutically drained


Complications


See Also


References

  1. Sundaram V, Manne V, Al-Osaimi AM. Ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: recommendations from two United States centers. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(5):279-287. doi:10.4103/1319-3767.141686
  2. Runyon BA. Care of patients with ascites. N Eng J Med. 1994; 330: 337-342.
  3. Tintanelli's
  4. http://www.thepocusatlas.com/bowel/
  5. Runyon BA. Management of adult patients with ascites due to cirrhosis: update 2012. Amer Assoc Study Liv Dis. 2012; 1-96.
  6. Runyon BA. Management of adult patients with ascites due to cirrhosis: update 2012. Amer Assoc Study Liv Dis. 2012; 1-96.
  7. Runyon BA. Cardiac ascites: a characterization. J Clin Gastro. 1998; 10(4): 410-412.