Ascites
Ascites is the presence of free fluid (i.e. outside the intestine) in the abdominal cavity. The word comes from the Greek askitos meaning bag - because the abdomen can swell up and look like one. Ascites is a complication of many disease processes affecting other organs such as cardiac failure, malignant disease which has spread to the abdomen, or kidney disease. Cirrhosis of the liver can produce large amounts of ascites - up to 70 litres have been recorded - (hence the name). Treatment of ascites involves restriction of the amount of salt (because increased salt means increased retention of fluid), the use of diuretics to help reduce the amount of fluid and treatment, if possible, of the underlying disease.
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