Ascites (cont.)
Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH
Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
In this Article
- What is ascites?
- What causes ascites?
- What are the types of ascites?
- What are the risk factors for ascites?
- What are the symptoms of ascites?
- When should I call my doctor about ascites?
- How is ascites diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for ascites?
- What are the complications for ascites?
- Can ascites be prevented?
- What is the outlook for ascites?
- Ascites At A Glance
- Other sources of information on ascites
What is the outlook (prognosis) for ascites?
The outlook on ascites primarily depends on its underlying cause and severity.
In general, the prognosis of malignant ascites is poor. Most cases have a mean survival time between 20 to 58 weeks, depending on the type of malignancy as shown by a group of investigators.
Ascites due to cirrhosis usually is a sign of advanced liver disease and it usually has a fair prognosis (3 year survival about 50%).
Ascites due to heart failure has a fair prognosis as the patient may live years with appropriate treatments (survival averaged about 1.7 years for men and about 3.8 for women in one large study).
Ascites At A Glance
- Ascites refers to abnormal accumulation fluid in the abdominal (peritoneal)
cavity.
- The most common cause of ascites is cirrhosis of the liver.
- Treatment of ascites depends on its underlying cause.
Other sources of information on ascites
- eMedicine.com, "Ascites."
- eMedicineHealth.com, "Congestive
Heart Failure."
- eMedicine.com, "Cardiac Cirrhosis."
Last Editorial Review: 7/13/2009
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