Ascites is a condition where there is accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. This fluid is normally clear, pale or slightly straw colored in nature. The abdominal cavity, or peritoneal cavity is located just below the chest cavity. These two cavities are separated by the diaphragm. This kind of accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity can occur due to many systemic diseases and disorders. One of the most common causes of ascites is liver disease or liver cirrhosis. This mostly occurs as a result of an increase in the pressure of liver blood flow, which is known as portal hypertension. This kind of accumulation of fluid is similar to edema. Sometimes, ascites may also occur due to salt and water retention, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, peritoneal inflammation, etc.
Symptoms of Ascites
In the initial stages of ascites, there may be a possibility that there are no symptoms exhibited. This is so because when there is only slight accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, there are normally no systemic changes or significant symptoms seen, and hence, the patient will not report to the doctor at this stage. However, after sometime, when the fluid accumulation reaches such a stage that there are visible symptoms or the patient feels discomfort, only then does he visit the doctor to get the condition diagnosed. Given below are the various signs and symptoms of ascites that one needs to lookout for:
Abdominal Ascites
When there is accumulation of only about 100-400 ml of fluid in the abdominal cavity, it is generally said to be a case of mild ascites. Mild ascites symptoms include slight abdominal pain and discomfort. However, when there is accumulation of more than 500 ml of fluid, then there is abdominal pain and bloating seen. In fact, one of the main abdominal bloating causes is ascites. When suffering from severe ascites, the patient normally complains of abdominal distension and abdominal heaviness. In fact, often the large abdominal distension is a common physical concern for patients, and this is often the main factor that prompts patients into going to the doctor. On percussion of the abdomen, there is shifting dullness, and a fluid wave or fluid thrill is seen on tapping one side of the abdomen. A fluid wave means, a wave like effect is seen on the skin of the abdomen when the side of the patient is tapped, as there is movement of fluid in the cavity.
Other Symptoms
Sometimes, if the swelling is so large that the fluid impinges on the diaphragm, the person may feel shortness of breath, as the pressure on the diaphragm hinders its normal functioning. At times, the fluid may even pass the diaphragm and surround the lungs, leading to pleural effusion. Other symptoms include easy bruising, gynecomastia, mental confusion, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, etc. If the person has ascites due to bacterial inflammation of the peritoneal cavity lining, then there may also be systemic symptoms, like fever, fatigue, weight loss, etc. One of the rarer type of ascites is chylous ascites, where one of the main chylous ascites symptoms is accumulation of milky white fluid in intraperitoneal area, as this kind of ascites occurs due to obstruction of the drainage of abdominal lymph glands.
Thus, ascites, though in itself, is not an actual disease but is merely a symptom that could indicate a major underlying disease or condition, it is important to try to identify it at the earliest, so as to treat the underlying disease, and prevent any further systemic complications.
Symptoms of Malignant Ascites eHow - eHow How to Videos ...
www.ehow.com Conditions & Treatments Medical ConditionsAccording to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), malignant ascites is a condition that develops in cancer patients when fluids that contain cancer cells build up in ...
Ascites Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - Ascites Symptoms on ...
www.emedicinehealth.com digestive disorders a-z listInformation about ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity caused by alcohol abuse, cirrhosis, liver disease, cancers, heart failure, nephrotic ...
Ascites - Symptom Checker - check medical symptoms at
symptoms.rightdiagnosis.com/cosymptoms/ascites.htmList of 131 causes of Ascites, alternative diagnoses, rare causes, misdiagnoses, patient stories, and much more.
Ascites - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments - Better Medicine
www.localhealth.com/article/ascitesAscites Information Including Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Causes, Videos, Forums, and local community support. Find answers to health issues you can trust
Malignant Ascites - Symptoms And Treatment
ezinearticles.com/...Ascites---Symptoms-And-Treatment&id=6438220Jul 20, 2011 Malignant ascites is often an annoying and painful condition that effects people all around the world. This article will be focusing on the symptoms and ...
Ascites - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AscitesAscites is a gastroenterological term for an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The medical condition is also known as peritoneal cavity fluid ...
Ascites Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - When should I call my
www.medicinenet.com/ascites/page3.htmLearn about ascites, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Some common causes of ascites include liver disease or cirrhosis, portal hypertension, cancers ...
Ascites Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment by MedicineNet.com
www.medicinenet.com/ascites/article.htmLearn about ascites, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Some common causes of ascites include liver disease or cirrhosis, portal hypertension, cancers ...
Ascites Symptoms
ascitessymptoms.comThe appearance of ascites in patients suffering from liver disease is always an unfavorable sign. This kind of complication worsens prognosis. Ascetic symptoms may ...
Symptoms: Ascites - Pancreatic Cancer Action Network no cost ...
www.pancan.org/.../learn_about_pan_cancer/symptoms/Ascites.phpSymptom: Ascites . What is ascites? Ascites (pronounced ah-site-eez) is the accumulation of excessive fluid in the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum.
Ascites - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7ofTVGvIWcThis is a modest video from a medical student to help you in your exams or just ease some topic in medicine,,, hope you like it
Ascites - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Pictures, Definition
diseasespictures.com/ascitesAscites is a condition in which there is fluid accumulation in the space between the abdominal lining and other internal organs of the abdomen.
ascites - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvuvlcgbG90Dr. Oller talks about the emergency managment of ascites. Treatment and follow up issues are discussed.
Ascites: Definition with Ascites Pictures and Photos
www.lexic.us/definition-of/ascitesDefinition of Ascites with photos and pictures, translations, sample usage, and additional links for more information.
Ascites - cat medical information - symptoms and treatments
helpmycat.com/diagnosis.php?dname=1372cat disease information, find feline treatments and symptoms of Ascites
Ascites LIVESTRONG.COM
www.livestrong.com/ascitesAscites is excess fluid in the space between the tissues lining the abdomen and abdominal organs the peritoneal cavity. A person with ascites usually has severe liver ...
Ascites Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - Ascites Treatment on ...
www.emedicinehealth.com digestive disorders a-z listInformation about ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity caused by alcohol abuse, cirrhosis, liver disease, cancers, heart failure, nephrotic ...
Ascites - Symptoms - Better Medicine - Local Health Health and ...
www.localhealth.com/article/ascites/symptomsResearch Symptoms of Ascites - Information Including Diagnosis, Treatment, Causes, Videos, Forums, and local community support.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer: Ascites - Pancreas Treatment ...
pancreasmd.org/ed_symptoms_ascites.htmlSymptoms of Pancreatic Cancer. In Pancreatic Cancer: Ascites may occur at any stage of pancreatic cancer, but is typically associated with advanced metastatic ...
Ascites - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Home Diseases and ConditionsNov 16, 2012 Ascites is the build up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs (the peritoneal cavity).
Ascites - What Is It, Symptoms, Causes Lifescript.com
www.lifescript.com/health/a-z/conditions_a-z/conditions/a/ascites...What is ascites? Learn about ascites symptoms, ascites causes, diagnosis, and more.
Signs & Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure From Ascites eHow
www.ehow.com Health Conditions & Treatments Heart DiseaseAscites is a condition that causes fluid to accumulate in the abdominal cavity just below the chest. Its commonly associated with cirrhosis, but congestive heart ...
Symptoms - Patients Against Lymphoma - Lymphomation.org
www.lymphomation.org/symptoms.htmAbout Lymphoma > Symptoms & Complications of Lymphoma. Last update: 06/18/2013: TOPICS General Symptoms B-symptoms Other symptoms ...
Manage recurrent pleural effusions and malignant ascites symptoms ...
www.carefusion.com/medical-products/interventional-procedures/...PleurX Drainage System for Physicians Help your patients manage symptoms from pleural effusions or malignant ascites. The PleurX drainage system is an easy-to ...