If you develop ascites with cirrhosis

Ascites are an accumulation of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is most often a complication of liver diseases - cirrhosis with hypertension. It appears suddenly or develops gradually, in a few months, accompanied by a flatulence and an enlarged abdomen. But also ascites can occur in ovarian cancer.

Ascites should not be called liver disease. This is absolutely wrong. However, this disease almost always appears as a result of severe liver diseases, for example, cirrhosis. Thus, according to doctors' statistics, in half of patients who have cirrhosis for more than ten years, ascites also occurs. If you develop ascites with cirrhosis of the liver, then it can talk about the serious course of the disease and even the risk of an early lethal outcome. Half of these patients die within two years after the detection of the complication. Specialists can not yet determine precisely why these two diseases are so closely related.

Why and where does the liquid come from? How does the state of the kidneys affect the entire process? Unfortunately, this phenomenon has been poorly studied. If the appearance of such a symptom in patients with heart disease is well studied, schemes have been developed for the treatment and maintenance of such patients, then in the case that you have developed ascites in cirrhosis, everything is absolutely different.

In general, it is known that with the appearance of cirrhosis, the lymphatic fluid and venous blood become worse, which contributes to the appearance of stagnant phenomena. With cirrhosis, there is almost always hypertension, which is also associated with fluid stagnation. Blood supply to the kidneys and their work also worsen. It is the appearance of problems with the kidneys and the accumulation in the body of sodium salts can serve as a starting point for the development of ascites. With this pathology, it is desirable to limit itself in the liquid (no more than one liter per day).

Now let's talk a little about the treatment of this disease. Of course, it is not a secret to anyone that the treatment of any disease, first of all, provides for the elimination of the root cause, which provoked it. Therefore, if you have developed ascites with cirrhosis, then the treatment of pathology begins, in the first place, with the main disease. To reduce ascites, doctors prescribe diuretic medicines, and also carry out certain special measures aimed at stabilizing the failures in water-salt metabolism and reducing hypertension.

If you develop ascites with cirrhosis, but for some time, its treatment does not give the desired result, then specialists can suggest removing excess fluid by puncturing the abdominal cavity. This procedure is called laparocentesis. It is performed exclusively after the preliminary release of the bladder, which is carried out in the sitting position of the patient. Do not be afraid, you will certainly enter all the required antiseptic and aseptic medicines, which will help to transfer this procedure, not very pleasant, much easier.

Puncture is done by a special device called trocar. Puncture with this device is most often performed along the central line of the abdomen. It is very important that the very first puncture be done successfully, because in the case of the following punctures, the patient may have an inflammation of the peritoneum or a fusion of the omentum and intestines with the anterior wall of the abdomen.

It happens that the treatment of ascites with cirrhosis occurs also surgically, but this happens only in extremely difficult cases. This operation is called omentohepatofrenopexy and is prescribed only in the case of severe portal hypertension.