Ascites - Diagnosis

In medicine (gastroenterology), ascites is a accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Although unpleasant, it is not intrinsically harmful. Nevertheless, its causes and complications are both significant medical problems. Ascites - Signs and symptoms. Mild ascites is hard to notice, but severe ascites leads to abdominal distension. In patients with ascites, a doctor will attempt to identify causes, such as a history of liver disease, other signs of portal hypertension or signs of tuberculosis or neph ...

Including:

• Ascites - Signs and symptoms
• Ascites - Diagnosis
• Ascites - Classification
• Ascites - Pathophysiology
• Ascites - Causes
• Ascites - Treatment
• Ascites - Cultural significance
• Ascites - Source

Read more here: » Ascites: Encyclopedia - Ascites

Several blood tests are commonly performed for ascites, including full blood count, electrolytes and renal function, liver enzymes, and glucose. If the cause is not apparent, serology for viruses known to cause hepatitis and ferritin may contribute to the analysis. Ultrasound investigation with doppler studies can be an important help, and may identify such problems as Budd-Chiari syndrome, portal vein thrombosis and cirrhosis. Additionally, the sonographer can make an estim ...

See also:

Ascites, Ascites - Signs and symptoms, Ascites - Diagnosis, Ascites - Classification, Ascites - Pathophysiology, Ascites - Causes, Ascites - Treatment, Ascites - Cultural significance, Ascites - Source

Read more here: » Ascites: Encyclopedia II - Ascites - Diagnosis

Ascitic fluid can accumulate as a transudate or an exudate. Amounts of up to 25 litres are fully possible. Roughly, transudates are a result of increased pressure on the portal vein (>8 mmHg), e.g. due to cirrhosis, while exudates are actively secreted fluid due to inflammation or malignancy. As a result, exudates are high in protein, high in lactate dehydrogenase, have a low pH (<7.30), a low glucose level, and more white blood cells. Transudates have low protein (<30g/L), low LDH, high pH, normal glucose, and fewer than 1 w ...

See also:

Ascites, Ascites - Signs and symptoms, Ascites - Diagnosis, Ascites - Classification, Ascites - Pathophysiology, Ascites - Causes, Ascites - Treatment, Ascites - Cultural significance, Ascites - Source

Read more here: » Ascites: Encyclopedia II - Ascites - Pathophysiology

Causes for transsudates are: Cirrhosis - 81% alcoholic - 65% viral - 10% cryptogenic - 6% Heart failure - 3% Budd-Chiari syndrome or veno-occlusive disease Constrictive pericarditis Exudates are caused by: Cancer (primary and metastasis) - 10% Tuberculosis - 2% Pancreatitis - 1% ...

See also:

Ascites, Ascites - Signs and symptoms, Ascites - Diagnosis, Ascites - Classification, Ascites - Pathophysiology, Ascites - Causes, Ascites - Treatment, Ascites - Cultural significance, Ascites - Source

Read more here: » Ascites: Encyclopedia II - Ascites - Causes

Mild ascites is hard to notice, but severe ascites leads to abdominal distension. In patients with ascites, a doctor will attempt to identify causes, such as a history of liver disease, other signs of portal hypertension or signs of tuberculosis or nephrotic syndrome. A proportion of chronic ascites patients also develop hepatic hydrothrorax, e.g. unilateral pleural effusion (mainly right-sided) due to liver disease, and many have par ...

See also:

Ascites, Ascites - Signs and symptoms, Ascites - Diagnosis, Ascites - Classification, Ascites - Pathophysiology, Ascites - Causes, Ascites - Treatment, Ascites - Cultural significance, Ascites - Source

Read more here: » Ascites: Encyclopedia II - Ascites - Signs and symptoms