Management of ascites in patients with liver disease

Abstract

Ascites is a distressing symptom that requires demanding treatments such as taking diuretics, reducing dietary salt or fluid intake, and draining ascitic fluid out of the abdomen (paracentesis). It is also often a sign that liver cirrhosis has progressed from a stable to decompensated state - and patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis have a poor prognosis.Nurses in advanced roles deal with many aspects of ascites management, from eliciting patient consent and prescribing albumin to performing paracentesis and monitoring electrolytes. This article offers an overview of ascites, it's causes, diagnosis complications and management, with a focus on ascites due to liver cirrhosis.