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Does Cirrhosis Cause A Big Stomach That Doean’t Go Away Completely Even After Paracentesis?

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Posted on Tue, 2 Apr 2024
Question: My friend had 17 liters tapped and 8 days later another 14 liters. His stomache doesn’t subside much. He still has profusion. It use to be that his stomache would flatten and the as itis would be maybe once every6 mos. after the parententetis he is very sick. Arms are wasted and shoulders are very thin. I would say he is 4 stage. He drank hard liquor for years. Can you say what is going on?
doctor
Answered by Dr. ARCHANA (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Liver cirrhosis with ascites

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Thanks for writing to us for your health concerns. I can understand your concern and will try to help you sort out your problems.

Sir your friend is in liver cirrhosis. As you say he had ascites. He had destroyed his liver drinking lot of alcohol and now he is having portal hypertension with ascites which needs fluid to be tapped. If he has peritonitis he needs to be treated with antibiotics based on sensitivity. I don't what all drugs he is on. But prognosis for your friend is bad. Kindly get him treated with best doctors. I hope he recovers soon. Feel free to ask any questions if you have any doubts.


I hope this info helps you sort out your problems and if you feel its helpful kindly give me user thank vote happy health!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. ARCHANA (32 minutes later)
You didn’t answer my question. I asked why his stomache doesn’t go completely down and still protrudes after 17 liters are tapped and there’s no more fluid left to tap? 2 weeks later another 14
Liters. His arms and shoulders are very thin. Will his muscle mass ever return? What are the symptoms of peritonitis, and what exactly is it?
Also, will diuretics eliminate the ascitis or will he still need to be tapped?
doctor
Answered by Dr. ARCHANA (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Liver cirrhosis with ascites

Detailed Answer:
Sir your friend is having liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension so because of that fluid moves from blood to the peritoneum due to pressure and is a constant process. His hypertension to be controlled in order to lessen the fluid. His proteins are getting depleted so only his muscle mass is less. Liver produces proteins and if it is not working well then it takes months or years to get back the muscle mass. In peritonitis he will have fluid collection along with fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps also. First he need to be treated for infection then peritonitis will be treated. If portal hypertension is also treated then his ascites will come down. I hope you understood the process of pathology. Feel free to ask questions if you have still doubts. Hit thanks happy health!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. ARCHANA (1 hour later)
Again! After 17 liters his abdomen doesn’t go down much! He still has a protruding stomache, something he never had before.
They take out complete fluid with nothing to extract but still maintains some protrusion. A year ago, after he was tapped his abdomen would go down to normal. Not anymore! Do you know why this is happening? And will diuretics get rid of the stomache protrusion?

Does cirrhosis sometime cause a big stomache that doean’t Go away completely, after paracententis?
He also gets leg cramps, that are excruciating, especially after he gets tapped.
doctor
Answered by Dr. ARCHANA (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Irreversible stage liver cirrhosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir as I told you he was in stage 1 or 2 before and ascites was reversible so only when fluid extracted his stomach was coming back to normal but now he has progressed to stage 4 and is irreversible so only even though fluid fully extracted collects again due to portal hypertension. Hypertension can be treated by diuretics. So only he has been put on that. If he takes those tablets symptoms reduces but not fully because he is going to failure. We need to see if he has edema of limbs or foot also. May be he might also get breathlessness. I hope this info helps you sort out your problems and if you feel its helpful kindly give me user thank vote happy health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. ARCHANA (43 hours later)
So you’re saying that even with dietetics and paracententis he will still have a protruding stomache?
He has a good appetite, and sometimes his urine will be orange, but will be yellow at times, also!
What is his prognosis? How long do4th stage usually last?
doctor
Answered by Dr. ARCHANA (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Stage 4 prognosis bad.

Detailed Answer:
Yes sir even with diuretics and patacentesis his abdomen will be like that. You say orange urine? sir kindly dont mind these kind of cases need to be thoroughly examined to tell you what is the prognosis. As far you have told us the history his prognosis is bad and prognosis usually get depicted by child Pugh score all that should be done bedside. I hope you understand the constraints of online query. If it was video query I would explain you much better asking questions then and there. Take care of your friend. Feel free to ask any questions if you have any doubts. Hit thanks happy health

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. ARCHANA (1 hour later)
You say he is going to failure. You mean complete liver failure? Can they treat the liver so he doean’t Go to complete failure, or there’s no hope?
doctor
Answered by Dr. ARCHANA (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Prognosis can't be predicted without physical examination

Detailed Answer:
Sir we cant predict so vaguely liver cell failure. We need to look for clinical signs like flapping tremors, altered sebsorium, testicular atrophy, spider naevi, gynaecomastia, bone tenderness, ascites and pedal edema. Sir we can't predict all these things from here. I hope you understand and needs general examination.Feel free to ask questions if you have any doubts. Hit thanks happy health!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. ARCHANA

Anesthesiologist

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 946 Questions

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Does Cirrhosis Cause A Big Stomach That Doean’t Go Away Completely Even After Paracentesis?

Brief Answer: Liver cirrhosis with ascites Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us for your health concerns. I can understand your concern and will try to help you sort out your problems. Sir your friend is in liver cirrhosis. As you say he had ascites. He had destroyed his liver drinking lot of alcohol and now he is having portal hypertension with ascites which needs fluid to be tapped. If he has peritonitis he needs to be treated with antibiotics based on sensitivity. I don't what all drugs he is on. But prognosis for your friend is bad. Kindly get him treated with best doctors. I hope he recovers soon. Feel free to ask any questions if you have any doubts. I hope this info helps you sort out your problems and if you feel its helpful kindly give me user thank vote happy health!