This document provides an overview of ascites, including its definition as fluid collection in the peritoneal cavity. It discusses the epidemiology, classification, etiology, pathophysiology, workup, and treatment of ascites. The epidemiology section notes mortality rates and differences between sexes. Classification divides ascites into four grades based on severity. Etiology categorizes ascites as transudative or exudative based on albumin levels. Workup involves history, exam, labs, imaging and diagnostic paracentesis. Treatment options include dietary changes, diuretics, paracentesis, TIPS procedure, and liver transplant.

1. DR. FARWA SHABBIR
HOUSE OFFICER
GASTROENTEROLOGY
APPROACH TO A PATIENT WITH
ASCITES

2. ROAD MAP
 DEFINITION
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
 CLASSIFICATION
 ETIOLOGY
 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
 WORKUP
 TREATMENT

3. WHAT IS ASCITES?
 Greek origin (askos)
and means bag or sac
 It is the collection of
fluid in the peritoneal
cavity

4. EPIDEMIOLOGY
 Mortality/Morbidity
Ambulatory patients with an episode of cirrhotic
ascites have a 3-year mortality rate of 50%. The
development of refractory ascites carries a poor
prognosis, with a 1-year survival rate of less than
50%.
 Sex
Healthy men have little or no intraperitoneal fluid,
but women may normally have as much as 20
mL, depending on the phase of their menstrual
cycle.

5. CLASSIFICATION
Ascites exists in four grades:
 Grade 1: mild, only visible on ultrasound and
CT
 Grade 2: is easily detectable but of relatively
small volume.
 Grade 3: detectable with flank bulging and
shifting dullness
 Grade 4: directly visible, confirmed with
the fluid wave/thrill test.

6. ETIOLOGY
• Serum Albumin -
Ascites Albumin
>1.1 gm/dl
TRANSUDATIV
E
• Serum Albumin -
Ascites Albumin
<1.1 gm/dl
EXUDATIVE

7. TRANSUDATIVE
CIRRHOSIS
HEART
FAILURE
KWASHIORKOR
CONST.
PERICARDITIS
BUDD-CHIARI
SYNDROME

8. EXUDATIVE
CANCER
INFECTIONS
(TB, SBP)
HEREDITARY
ANGIOEDEMA
NEPHROTIC
SYNDROME
PANCREATITIS

9. MISCELLANIOU
S
PERITONEUM
MESOTHELIOMA
MEIGS
SYNDROME
HYPOTHYROIDISM

10. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MECHANISM:
 Underfilling
 overflow
 peripheral arterial vasodilation.

11. UNDERFILLING

12. OVERFLOW
PORTAL
HYPERTENSIO
N
HYPER
VOLUMIA
ASCITES

13. PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL
VASODILATION

14. WORK UP
HISTORY
AGE
child :Tuberculous ascites and nephrosis
Middle age :cirrhosis of liver
Old age : malignance
SEX
Female : meigs synd., pelvic tumours and infection
and ovarian tumours
Male: alcholoism, drug abuse
ORDER OF DEVELPOMENT
cardiac causes : Leg oedema precedes
ascites
Kidney causes : Puffiness of face precedes
ascites
Cirrhosis of liver : Ascites is the first feature

15. GENERAL EXAMINATION

19. SYSTEMIC EXAMINATION
INSPECTION

20. PALPATION

21. PERCUSSION

22. LABORATORY ANALYSIS
DIAGNOSTIC PERITONEAL TAP
Inspection:
 Most ascitic fluid is transparent and tinged yellow.
 more than 20,000 red blood cells/µL will produce
distinctly blood-tinged fluid. This may result from
either a traumatic tap or malignancy
 Cloudy ascitic fluid with a purulent consistency
indicates infection.

23. Cell count:
 Normal ascitic fluid contains fewer than 500
leukocytes/µL and fewer than 250
polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs)/µl
 A PMN count of greater than 250 cells/µL is highly
suggestive of bacterial peritonitis
 In tuberculous peritonitis and peritoneal
carcinomatosis, lymphocytes usually
predominate.

24. SAAG:
 SAAG is the best single test for classifying
ascites into portal hypertensive (SAAG >1.1 g/dL)
and non–portal hypertensive (SAAG < 1.1 g/dL)
Culture/Gram stain:
 Culture has a 92% sensitivity for the detection of
bacteria in ascitic fluid
 In contrast, Gram stain is only 10% sensitive for
visualizing bacteria in early-detected
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Cytology:
 Cytology smears are reported to be 58-75%
sensitive for detection of malignant ascites.

25. IMAGING STUDIES
Ultrasonography:
 Volumes as small as 5-
10 mL can routinely be
visualized.
 With massive ascites,
the small bowel loops
have a characteristic
polycyclic, "lollipop,"
appearance
 The smallest amounts
of fluid tend to collect in
the Morison pouch and
around the liver as a

26.  Certain ultrasonographic findings suggest that the
ascites may be infected, inflammatory, or
malignant. These findings include coarse internal
echoes (blood), fine internal echoes (chyle),
multiple septa (tuberculous peritonitis,
pseudomyxoma peritonei)
 In malignant ascites, the bowel loops do not float
freely but may be tethered along the posterior
abdominal wall, plastered to the liver or other
organs, or surrounded by loculated fluid
collections.
 The thickening of the gallbladder is primarily a
reflection of cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

27. CT Scan:
 Ascites is
demonstrated well on
CT scan.
 A number of CT scan
features suggest
neoplasia. Hepatic,
adrenal, splenic, or
lymph node lesions
associated with
masses arising from
the gut, ovary, or
pancreas are
suggestive of
malignant ascites.

29.  Salt restriction
 Diuretics
1. Spironolactone
(Aldactone)
2. Furosemide
(Lasix)
3. Amiloride
(Midamor)
4. Mannitol
(Osmitrol)

30.  Paracentesis

31.  transjugular
intrahepatic
portosystemic
shunt (TIPS)

32.  Liver transplant