liver and gallbladder disorders
Ascites
Treatment of Ascites
A low-sodium diet Diuretics Removal of ascitic fluid (therapeutic paracentesis) Sometimes surgery to reroute blood flow (portosystemic shunting) or liver transplantation For spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, antibiotics The basic treatment for ascites is a low-sodium diet with a goal of 2,000 mg or less of sodium per day. If diet is ineffective, people are usually also given drugs called diuretics (such asspironolactoneorfurosemide). Diuretics make the kidneys excrete more sodium and water into the urine so people urinate more. If ascites becomes uncomfortable or makes breathing or eating difficult, the fluid may be removed through a needle inserted into the abdomen—a procedure called therapeutic paracentesis. The fluid tends to reaccumulate unless people also follow a low-sodium diet and take a diuretic. Because a large amount ofalbuminis usually lost from the blood into the abdominal fluid,albuminmay be given intravenously. If large amounts of fluid accumulate frequently or if other treatments are ineffective, a portosystemic shunt or Liver Transplantation may be needed. The If spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is diagnosed, people are given antibiotics such ascefotaxime. Because this infection often recurs within a year, a different antibiotic (such as norfloxacin) is given after the initial infection resolves to prevent the infection from recurring. 