Does This Patient Have Ascites?

Abstract

CLINICAL SCENARIOS—DO THESE PATIENTS HAVE ASCITES? In each of the following cases, the clinician will need to determine whether the patient has ascites. Case 1: A 44-year-old cirrhotic man is admitted with fever but has no obvious source of infection. Case 2: A 57-year-old woman presents with an adnexal mass and recent weight gain but otherwise feels well. Case 3: A 65-year-old man with a history of prior myocardial infarction is admitted for decreased exercise tolerance, increased abdominal girth, and ankle edema. WHY IS THIS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ANSWER WITH A CLINICAL EXAMINATION? Free fluid in the abdominal cavity isascites. Ascites is a symptom that may have important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. When clinically detectable, ascites may indicate underlying heart failure, liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, or malignancy. In patients with liver disease, ascites has prognostic significance since operative mortality is increased and overall survival is decreased; ascites