Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Ascites Causes and Risk Factors. Risk factors for ascites. Causes of ascites. Diagnosis and tests. Treatment for ascites.
Prevention and control. Complications of ascites. Talking with your doctor. Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis. Liver Diseases Read this next. Paracentesis Abdominal Tap. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. About Molecule Mattresses. The abdominal shape will usually indicate whether or not there is a buildup of fluid. Assessment of the progress of ascites may be made by regularly measuring the abdominal girth and by monitoring weight.
These measurements are helpful because fluctuations in weight due to changes in the abdominal fluid are much faster than weight fluctuations linked to body fat.
Once fluid buildup is confirmed, further tests may be needed to pinpoint the cause. These include:. If an ultrasound investigation does not reveal a cause of ascites, then doctors may recommend an MRI magnetic resonance imaging scan. X-rays are also excellent diagnostic imaging tools.
They can confirm buildup of fluid in the lungs, cancer that has spread to the lungs, or heart failure. Prognosis and outlook of ascites depend on the underlying condition. Symptoms can be managed and reduced, but it is the treatment of the cause of ascites that determines the outcome. There is currently no satisfactory treatment for people who have cirrhosis as well as a form of ascites that is resistant to diuretics.
Peritonitis is an urgent condition affecting the tissue around the inside of the stomach wall. It requires immediate emergency treatment and often…. Hypervolemia is a condition in which there is too much fluid in the blood. It is also known as fluid overload. If large amounts of fluid accumulate, the abdomen becomes very large, sometimes making people lose their appetite and feel short of breath and uncomfortable.
Characteristic manifestations include Jaundice a yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes Cholestasis reduction or stoppage Major causes are diabetes and high blood pressure The pancreas is a leaf-shaped organ about 5 inches about 13 centimeters long. It is surrounded by the lower edge of the stomach and the first It usually affects the lungs. Tuberculosis is spread mainly when people breathe air Ascites tends to occur in long-standing chronic rather than in short-lived acute liver disorders.
It most commonly results from. Portal hypertension Portal Hypertension Portal hypertension is abnormally high blood pressure in the portal vein the large vein that brings blood from the intestine to the liver and its branches. Portal hypertension usually results from cirrhosis Cirrhosis of the Liver Cirrhosis is the widespread distortion of the liver's internal structure that occurs when a large amount of normal liver tissue is permanently replaced with nonfunctioning scar tissue.
People with fatty liver may feel tired or have mild abdominal discomfort but otherwise have no symptoms Ascites may occur in other liver disorders, such as severe alcoholic hepatitis without cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and obstruction of the hepatic vein Budd-Chiari syndrome Budd-Chiari Syndrome Budd-Chiari syndrome is caused by blood clots that completely or partially block blood flow from the liver.
The blockage may occur anywhere from the small and large veins that carry blood from In people with a liver disorder, ascitic fluid leaks from the surface of the liver and intestine and accumulates within the abdomen. A combination of factors is responsible. They include the following:. Also, albumin usually leaks from blood vessels into the abdomen.
Normally, albumin, the main protein in blood, helps keep fluid from leaking out of blood vessels. When albumin leaks out of blood vessels, fluid also leaks out.
This test may help point to the cause of the ascites. Your healthcare provider may request images of the inside of your abdomen using ultrasound, MRI, or a CT scan. An MRI creates images using a magnetic field and radiofrequency energy. A CT scan creates computerized images using X-rays. How is ascites treated? Your healthcare provider may tell you to: Cut back on your salt intake.
Your healthcare provider or a dietitian can show you how to follow a low-sodium diet. Avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium. This is because some medicines used in treating ascites can cause your potassium levels to rise. Cut back on the amount of fluids you drink.
Stop drinking alcohol. Take diuretic medicines to help reduce the fluid in your body. In certain cases, your doctor may need to remove large amounts of fluid from your abdomen through a needle. This may be done if you have trouble breathing or the diuretic is not working.
In very complicated situations, you may need to have a special procedure in radiology called TIPS. In this procedure, a connection is made inside the liver between the blood vessels to ease the high pressure causing ascites.
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