Ascites
Ascites is a condition in which fluid develops around the peritoneal cavity. The abdominal lining is the peritoneum. The accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity develops into a condition known as edema. Other tissues that surround these organs can also be affected. Ascites produces gallons of liquid that form within the abdominal cavity and can cause severe symptoms such as weight gain, pain and swelling of the abdomen, swollen ankles and shortness of breath. The severity of this condition is not considered a disease, but a condition that can cause great pain and swelling of the patient's mid-section. This could cause complications when a patient tries to breathe. The diaphragm is an important organ that assists in respiration. If there is massive pressure on the diaphragm and other tissues in that area, breathing becomes nearly impossible.
Ascites can cause a number of different health issues for the patient. Some of these health issues related to ascites include kidney or heart failure (or other related issues involving those two organs), hepatitis, or the inflammation/hardening of the sac that contains the heart. Also, if a patient is experiencing low levels of albumin in the blood, ascites may develop. These low levels shift the pressure to prevent fluid exchange.
The pain associated with this condition can be slight to very severe. If doctors are able to remove the fluid safely and properly, this treatment is considered preferable. The fluid is drained using a needle that is placed into the abdominal cavity. This is considered one of the safest methods of removal because it only requires a local anesthetic to keep the patient comfortable. This whole process is called "paracentesis." If a patient accumulates more fluid after the procedure, the doctor may prescribe a diuretic to work on alleviating some of the puffiness and fluid retention. If the doctor feels that none of these procedures are right for the patient, he or she may insert a "shunt" that allows the fluid to move into the venous blood circulatory system. This is effective because the fluid collected in that system is then removed by the kidneys. Any of these options should be discussed with a doctor, especially if the condition is causing severe pain.
