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  • Title: A European survey on the treatment of ascites in cirrhosis.
    Author: Arroyo V, Ginès A, Saló J.
    Journal: J Hepatol; 1994 Oct; 21(4):667-72. PubMed ID: 7814814.
    Abstract:
    A questionnaire to assess the clinical choice of ascites treatment in cirrhosis was distributed to 1473 participants in an EASL meeting. The response rate (295, 20%) was considered satisfactory in view of the heterogeneity of the persons attending this event. Most participants (86.4%) in the survey were hepatologists and gastroenterologists. The following conclusions of the survey are noteworthy: (1) The objective of ascites therapy was to eliminate completely or almost completely the ascitic fluid for 49% of responders and to decrease ascites volume to an acceptable level of patient comfort for 48%; (2) The classical progressive therapeutic schedule of ascites is rarely used; (3) Following mobilisation of ascites, most (82%) maintain patients on diuretic therapy to avoid reaccumulation of ascites; (4) Only 5% of participants did not use paracentesis to manage ascites in cirrhosis. This was the therapeutic procedure most frequently used for patients with refractory ascites; (5) Although the most acceptable definition of refractory ascites was ascites which cannot be mobilized by maximal medical treatment, a significant proportion of participants also considered that intractable ascites due to diuretic-induced complications and recidivant ascites should be included in the definition; (6) The proportions of participants prescribing prophylactic therapy, mainly low sodium diet, to compensated patients with and without a past history of ascites were 68% and 16%, respectively.
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