THE CARDIAC OUTPUT IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER AND TENSE ASCITES WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF PARACENTESIS

Abstract

The resting cardiac output was studied by means of the dye method in patients with Laennec''s cirrhosis and history of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The cardiac output in 13 patients with tense ascites was compared to that in 17 patients without ascites in terms of absolute values, and as related to body surface area, height, and O2 consumption. Patients with ascites showed higher mean values than patients without ascites, but the differences were not significant. In both groups of patients the cardiac output was often high, sometimes normal, but never low. Five patients were studied at varying intervals before and after abdominal paracentesis. In general, the resting cardiac output remained essentially unchanged. On 2 occasions a rise in cardiac output was noted immediately after paracentesis, but subsequent studies showed a return to control values. In no instance did the cardiac output decrease after paracentesis. Tense ascites is not an important determinant of the level of cardiac output in patients with cirrhosis at rest and in recumbency.