ascites

[SJN1111]

My mother is 78 and has cirrossis of the liver. She is experiencing fluid retention in her abdomin (abdomen). She also has 3-4 stage kidney disease and has high bp and is diabetic. I have heard of valves or drains that can be utilized. However her Dr. has not recomended this. She gets so uncomfortable when the fluid builds up and short of breath. She has had several tapping of the fluid, anywhere from 3-5.5 liters of fluid has been drain. Her Dr only does these taps when it gets difficult for her to breath, because he worries of infection. Is it because of her age they dont think she would have good results? I am frustrated that her medical team has just given up on her. Do you think there is any treatment that she will benefit from? Her amonia levels are also elevated which causes her to be confused. Is there anyother treatment other than taking enulose or laculose? It makes her have constant diareaha.
Thank-you,
Sandra

[Mr Liver]

Infection is a real concern when a patient gets tapped. Peritoneal infections usually spread very rapidly due to the favorable environment provided by the fluid and warmth of the abdominal cavity. Each draining carries some risk of infection and her doctor may feel that a permanently placed catheter for drainage might pose more overall risk than the occasional tapping. Maybe. Her doctor is the one to ask about this to be certain of his reasoning on the matter.

There are other medicines for the treatment of encephalopathy (confusion) such as rifaximin, but here again her prescribing doctor is in the best position to determine which medicine to use at any particular time point.

If you have not done so, ask her attending doctor what your mother's prognosis is and what influenced his conclusion.

I'm sure the doctors will answer all of your questions and  they are reallythe only ones who can given the complex nature of your mother's medical condition. ML