It happens that against the background of the development of a serious disease in the human body, ascites occurs. This disease interferes with leading a full and active lifestyle. Pathology can lead to sad consequences. In modern medicine, there are effective methods of therapy with which you can get rid of the disease at an early stage of its development.
Features of the disease and symptoms
Specialists say that this is a serious pathology, which is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the pelvic organs. The most common cause of ascites is a violation of the water balance in the human body, which arose due to the development of a serious pathological process.
A he althy person has small amounts of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which should not accumulate in the body. In the presence of a serious disease of the internal organ, this fluid begins to accumulate, and the lymphatic capillaries slowly absorb the substance. With the appearance of ascites, the amount of fluid is significantlyincreases, as a result of which the work of vital organs is disrupted. For this reason, the overall he alth of a person is deteriorating.
The disease progresses due to the fact that over time, the volume of fluid increases and the volume of circulating blood decreases. This leads to the fact that the compensatory mechanism is launched, which retains water in the body. The patient empties the bladder less and less, while the amount of fluid increases significantly. Due to its excessive accumulation in the abdomen, intra-abdominal pressure increases and blood circulation is disturbed. There are problems in the work of the cardiovascular system.
Protein loss and electrolyte disturbances cause problems in the functioning of internal organs and worsen the patient's he alth. The cause of ascites can only be determined by a doctor after examining the patient.
Stages of disease
There are several stages in the development of pathology. At an early stage of the onset of the disease, treatment is more effective and faster. When determining the stage of the disease, the doctor takes into account several factors:
- With transient ascites, about 390 ml of fluid accumulates in the pelvic area. Diagnosis of the presence of the disease is possible only after passing a complete medical examination. The functioning of vital organs is not impaired. With the help of special medicines, you can easily relieve the symptoms of the disease.
- With moderate ascites of the abdominal cavity, no more than 4 liters of water accumulate. The patient's abdomen is significantly enlarged and the lower part sticks outabdominal wall. In the supine position, shortness of breath often occurs. With the help of tapping, the doctor is able to determine the presence of fluid in the abdomen.
- With intense ascites, the work of vital organs is disrupted. The amount of fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity reaches 10 liters. At this stage, urgent hospitalization is necessary. Treatment is carried out in a hospital under the strict supervision of doctors.
At the initial stage of the appearance of ascites, signs of the disease may be absent. In the subsequent stages of the pathology, the patient's general condition worsens.
Causes of disease
Based on the analysis of statistics, we can conclude that the main causes of ascites are:
- Pathologies of the liver.
- Having cancer.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Often the cause of ascites is a neglected disease, namely:
- tuberculous lesions of the abdominal cavity;
- gynecological disease;
- endocrine disorder;
- peritonitis;
- diabetes.
To prevent the appearance of ascites, doctors recommend timely treatment of other diseases. If one of the signs of the disease appears, you should immediately visit a specialist.
What factors increase the likelihood of pathology?
As medical practice shows, most often the disease develops in those people who lead an unhe althy lifestyle. Quite often, the following factors contribute to the appearance of ascites:
- drug use;
- malnutrition;
- viral hepatitis;
- excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Doctors say that ascites appears when there is a combination of violations of the vital functions of the body, which lead to the accumulation of fluid in the pelvic organs. You can determine the cause of ascites on a laboratory and instrumental examination.
How to determine the presence of pathology?
There are a number of basic signs, thanks to which it is possible to determine the presence of a disease in the early stages of its development. It should be remembered that only after a complete medical examination, the doctor can make a diagnosis. It is impossible to do this at home. Among the main signs of pathology are:
- Bloating is the most common symptom of abdominal ascites. In some cases, the abdomen becomes unnaturally rounded and hangs down a little.
- Sometimes the navel protrudes and stretch marks appear on the skin.
- Venous drawings on the body appear if the pressure in the pelvic organs of the patient has increased significantly.
- There is severe and sharp pain in the abdomen.
- There is a strong heaviness when the body is actively moving.
- Legs, arms and face swell.
- Due to the development of tachycardia, the patient has a feeling of oxygen starvation.
Among the secondary symptoms of abdominal ascites are nausea and vomiting. The disease is often accompanied by constipation, nausea, belching withbad breath and loss of appetite.
After passing the laboratory and instrumental examination, the specialist analyzes the overall clinical picture and establishes the cause that provoked the appearance of the pathology. If one of the signs of the disease appears, it is important to immediately consult a doctor, since the disease tends to progress and turn into complex forms.
Disease diagnosis
The doctor performs a thorough examination of the patient. In the process of examining a patient, the following are mandatory:
- ultrasound;
- MRI;
- laparocentesis;
- general blood count.
Ultrasound can detect free fluid in the pelvic area and determine its volume. The specialist assesses the condition of the liver and spleen, determines the presence or absence of a tumor and metastasis. With the help of MRI, the doctor examines the tissue and evaluates its condition. This type of study allows you to diagnose the main disease that caused pelvic ascites. The cause of the appearance of the pathology is established strictly by the attending physician on the basis of the results of the patient's examination.
The doctor must examine the patient with the help of palpation and percussion. By palpation, the specialist evaluates the size of the liver and spleen. By tapping the patient's abdominal cavity, the doctor is able to analyze percussion sounds that will help indicate the development of the disease. If a dull percussion sound is determined, then, most likely, pronounced ascites is present.
A laboratory blood test will help determine the cause of ascites. Urinalysis will play an important role in making a diagnosis, because with the development of the disease, the patient has problems in the urinary system. The patient's urine density changes, while its excreted volume decreases.
Recommendations from experts
You should know that it is impossible to diagnose a disease at home, because for this it is important to conduct laboratory and instrumental studies that are carried out by a qualified specialist. Based on the results of the tests, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment.
When the disease is advanced, it is carried out in a hospital. At the initial stage of detection of pathology, therapy is carried out with medication. In the subsequent stages, the elimination of the problem is possible only with the help of surgical intervention. It is for this reason that doctors recommend regular medical examinations, which will help to identify the disease in a timely manner.
In order to find out the cause of ascites, it is forbidden to use folk methods, since this can only harm and aggravate the course of the disease. To accurately determine the disease that caused the development of ascites, you should be examined by several specialists. Quite often, the presence of gynecological or oncological pathology is the cause of fluid retention in the abdominal cavity.
Treatment principle
Basic principle of treatmentpathology lies in the treatment of the main disease that caused the development of ascites. In its process, it is especially important to remove fluid from the pelvic area and prevent recurrence.
At the initial stage of the development of pathology, treatment is carried out with the help of a s alt-free diet, which will ensure the removal of excess fluid from the body. In some cases, in the first stage of the disease, drug treatment is not applied.
At the second stage of the disease, therapy is carried out with the help of diet and diuretic therapy. The treatment process is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. It is important to constantly monitor the patient's condition and control the content of electrolytes in the blood.
At the last stage of the development of the disease, fluid is removed from the abdominal cavity. Diuretic therapy is carried out in combination with a s alt-free diet.
It is important for the doctor to determine the exact cause of ascites. Treatment will be aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms, but also at the main disease that provoked the appearance of the pathology. Only in this way will the patient's full recovery come.
Is it possible to predict the effectiveness of treatment?
It is important to understand that ascites is a very serious pathology that has arisen due to the development of disorders in the functioning of the internal organs of a person. This pathology is not fatal, but it is important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and take a responsible approach to the treatment process. If you follow all the recommendations of the attending physician, then it is possible to completely eliminate ascitic fluid from the abdominal cavity and restorefunction of a diseased organ.
When cancer is detected in a patient, ascites progresses rapidly and causes serious complications, which are often fatal. Ascites often appears in men. The reason for the appearance of this disease in the stronger sex is an unhe althy lifestyle.
The main disease that provoked the appearance of ascites, in some cases disrupts the functioning of the liver and kidneys. That is why there is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. In this case, it is very important to identify the underlying disease and carry out therapy. If you want to predict the effectiveness of ascites treatment, you should consider:
- Degree of disease. The first degree of pathology does not threaten the life of the patient, but it is important to carry out timely treatment, since the fluid tends to accumulate.
- Time to start therapy. With timely access to a doctor, it is possible to quickly and effectively treat ascites. In this case, important organs are not destroyed and their functioning is not disturbed.
Compensated cirrhosis of the liver is a very serious disease in which life expectancy is 6-11 years. The main cause of abdominal ascites in oncology is an untimely visit to a doctor or improperly selected treatment of tumors.
What is the disease dangerous?
Since ascites tends to progress and turn into complex forms, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner and carry out treatment, otherwise serious complications may arise:
- work violationscardiovascular system;
- tachycardia;
- internal hemorrhage;
- peritonitis.
Relapse of the disease often occurs with improper therapy. For this reason, it is important to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.
Conservative way to treat the disease
Doctors use a conservative method of treatment when the disease is at an early stage of development or, if necessary, to carry out palliative therapy.
In the course of treatment, it is important to remove ascitic fluid and improve the overall he alth of the patient. To do this, it is important to reduce the level of sodium that enters the human body and activate its active excretion in the urine. To achieve a positive treatment result, it is important to implement an integrated approach:
- diet;
- control weight change;
- take a diuretic.
Nutrition plays a particularly important role. The diet menu should be discussed with your doctor. Obesity is a common cause of ascites in the abdomen.
Diet for sickness
Proper and s alt-free nutrition for edema plays a very important role in the treatment process. Diet will help remove excess fluid from the human body. To do this, it is important to follow the recommendations of doctors, including:
- It is important to consume the minimum amount of s alt. Excessive consumption of this product often provokes the development of edema and ascites. The patient is advised to exclude s alty foods from the diet.
- Drink small amounts of water. AtIf moderate or intense ascites is detected, no more than a liter of fluid per day should be consumed.
- No fatty foods. Eating foods high in fat can lead to pancreatitis.
- Eat enough protein. Protein deficiency is often the cause of edema.
Many people are interested in the causes of ascites, types of disease, but not everyone thinks about their lifestyle. Doctors recommend consuming more fruits and vegetables. It is necessary to include lean meats and fish in the diet. It is recommended to cook food by steaming or baking in the oven, since the beneficial properties of the products are not lost during such processing. It is forbidden to drink alcohol, tea and coffee. A fatty and fried dish will greatly harm your he alth in the presence of ascites.
Therapist's advice to the patient
The main cause of ascites during pregnancy is excessive pressure from the baby's head on the woman's pelvic organs. As a rule, after childbirth, the unpleasant symptoms of the disease leave the mother.
The causes of ascites in cirrhosis are determined strictly by the doctor after examining the internal organs. Among the most effective drugs that are used in the treatment process are:
- Furosemide;
- Mannitol;
- Spironolactone.
Doctors recommend regular blood tests, as symptoms of ascites are not always present at an early stage of the disease. The cause of the disease cannot be determinedon your own, so you should consult a doctor who will prescribe an effective medicine.
Drugs help to remove fluid and reduce the pressure that is exerted on the internal organs. You should know that doctors do not recommend self-medication, as this can be fatal.
The doctor provides comprehensive and individual treatment, taking into account the physiological characteristics of the body of each patient. The instructions for the drugs indicate only an approximate dosage. The dose and duration of the course of treatment is determined strictly by a specialist, taking into account the degree of the disease and the presence of other pathologies in the body.
In the process of treatment, you should take vitamins that will strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Antibiotics will help relieve inflammation and relieve pain in the abdomen.
When should surgery be performed?
Surgical intervention is prescribed by the attending physician only if the excess fluid cannot be removed from the patient's body using conservative treatment.
The laparocentesis procedure is performed quite often. This method ensures the withdrawal of a large volume of fluid from the human body (from 5 to 9 liters). The doctor punctures the tissue in the required place and cuts the skin with a scalpel. A special device is inserted through the incision, with the help of which the doctor removes the fluid in the required volumes. After the operation, the wound is sutured.
Omentohepatophrenopexy
In the process of omentohepatophrenopexy, the omentum is suturedto the treated area of the diaphragm and liver. Only the attending physician is able to determine which type of surgical intervention should be used in a particular case. The general state of he alth of the patient and the physiological characteristics of his body are taken into account.
S alt-free diet
After identifying the cause of abdominal ascites, the doctor may prescribe a s alt-free diet. There is nothing wrong with such a diet, since there are not many foods that need to be excluded from the diet. In the process of following a s alt-free diet, it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations. Among which:
- Do not add s alt to food during cooking, as this way the s alt is absorbed into the ingredients as much as possible.
- Eat small meals, about every 3-4 hours. The last meal should be no later than 19:00, since, for example, improper and excessive nutrition sometimes becomes the cause of pelvic ascites.
- For a person who constantly ate s alty food, at first the food will seem tasteless. To solve the problem, you can use spices (onions, parsley, basil, dill, garlic). Natural taste and natural aroma will certainly please the patient. Over time, a new eating habit will develop.
Acceptable foods include: rye bread, lean meat, sea fish, parsley and dill, fruits and vegetables, dairy products. It is allowed to drink natural compote, but in minimal quantities.
Prohibited foods include:
- carbonated drinks;
- fat,fried, spicy and smoked dishes;
- marinade;
- pickles;
- rich meat broth;
- pork;
- pastry;
- candy.
It is important to exclude those foods that contain a huge amount of s alt. The duration of the diet is determined only by the doctor, based on the current situation and the general condition of the patient.
Ascites is dangerous because it tends to progress. It is for this reason that it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner if signs of pathology have been noticed. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, unpleasant symptoms can be eliminated with the help of proper nutrition, moderate physical activity and a he althy lifestyle, because physical inactivity is a common cause of ascites.
Note to the patient: preventive measures
To prevent a recurrence of the disease, you should visit your doctor every six months and take all the necessary tests. It is also important to lead a he althy lifestyle and not consume large amounts of s alty foods. Proper nutrition and moderate physical activity are the best prevention for any disease.
Despite the fact that ascites is a serious disease, with timely access to a doctor, it is possible to quickly and effectively cure the patient. The appearance of one of the signs of the disease should be the reason for the immediate appeal to a medical facility. It is forbidden to engage in self-medication, since only a doctor can determine the main disease that provoked the appearance of pathology. The causes of ascites in humans, as already mentioned,are very diverse.
