Ascitic Fluid

posted in Gastroenterology on by

Brief HPI:

A 56 year-old male with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis complicated by esophageal varices presents to the emergency department with abdominal distension. He notes gradually worsening symptoms over the past 2 weeks – roughly correlating with the timing of his last paracentesis. He has limited access to medical care and typically presents to emergency departments for palliative paracenteses. He is otherwise in his usual state of health and denies fevers, chills, abdominal pain, vomiting blood, or dark/bloody stools.

Vital signs are notable for a heart rate of 97bpm and blood pressure of 110/65mmHg – otherwise normal. Examination demonstrates a distended abdomen which is non-tender, dull to percussion and with a palpable fluid wave. Bedside ultrasonography shows large, homogenous-appearing ascites with readily-accessible pockets for drainage in the bilateral lower quadrants. A palliative paracentesis is performed with uncomplicated extraction of 4 liters of translucent, straw-colored fluid. Ascitic fluid analysis shows 90 white blood cells of which 10% are polymorphonuclear. The patient is observed briefly in the emergency department, noted symptomatic improvement and was discharged with a plan for telephone follow-up of fluid culture results.

An Algorithm for the Analysis of Ascitic Fluid

Algorithm for the Analysis of Ascitic Fluid

References

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