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Complications

Authoring team

The complications of ascites include:

  • respiratory embarrassment when large volume ascites is present
  • spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, especially in cirrhotic individuals; suspect if the ascitic fluid leukocyte count is 500 per microlitre, or if there are more than 250 polymorphonuclear cells per microlitre

Reference

  1. Biggins SW et al. Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatorenal syndrome: 2021 practice guidance by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology. 2021 Aug;74(2):1014-48.

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