Does ascites in a woman's abdomen affect pregnancy?

Women with ascites are worried that it will affect pregnancy and the health of the baby. Experts recommend early treatment. So does ascites affect pregnancy? Can laparoscopic surgery be performed?

Does abdominal fluid affect pregnancy?

Whether ascites in the abdomen affects conception depends on the cause. If it is caused by inflammation and possible abdominal adhesions, it may affect pregnancy.

But if the amount is very small, it may just be some water or blood that temporarily accumulates after ovulation. You can go back for a follow-up visit two weeks later to confirm.

As for laparoscopic surgery, it has both diagnostic and therapeutic functions. If you suspect a pelvic problem, you can do it. Of course, it is still better to ask a doctor for a diagnosis.

What to do if you have ascites

Limit the intake of water and sodium. Patients with ascites, especially those caused by hypoproteinemia, should strictly control their sodium salt intake, followed by water intake; the diet should be high in sugar, protein, vitamins and fat; a low-salt diet is also suitable for all patients with exudative or exudative ascites. The purpose is to excrete as much excess water as possible through the kidneys.

Diuretics can be used to accelerate the excretion of water from the kidneys. Generally, potassium-sparing and potassium-excreting diuretics should be used together, or diuretics that act on different parts of the kidneys should be used together to achieve the best diuretic effect without causing electrolyte disturbances (especially preventing an increase or decrease in serum potassium ions).

Supplement albumin or accelerate protein synthesis. For example, if ascites is mainly caused by hypoproteinemia which leads to a decrease in plasma colloid osmotic pressure, in addition to eating more foods with high protein content, appropriate intravenous albumin supplementation should be given to increase plasma colloid osmotic pressure. After albumin infusion, the diuretic effect of diuretics can be better exerted and the urine volume will be significantly increased.

When a large amount of ascites affects the patient's breathing or the patient's abdominal distension symptoms are severe and unbearable, paracentesis can be used to relieve the symptoms.

Ascites concentration and re-infusion, ascites jugular venous reflux or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): If the ascites is caused by portal hypertension and hypoproteinemia in decompensated cirrhosis, ascites concentration and re-infusion can be used for treatment, that is, after ultrafiltration of the ascites, the protein, electrolytes and other substances in the ascites are returned to the body through the jugular vein. Ascites jugular venous reflux is a procedure in which a silicone tube is inserted from the abdominal cavity along the abdominal wall and chest wall into the jugular vein to drain the ascites into the jugular vein.

Use of vasodilators: When the ascites is a transudate and the amount is large but the diuretic effect is poor, vasodilators can be appropriately used to improve the blood supply to the kidneys, which is beneficial to enhance the diuretic effect.

What are the symptoms of abdominal ascites

Physical examination of ascites caused by heart disease may reveal signs such as cyanosis, peripheral edema, distended neck veins, enlarged heart, precordial tremor, hepatosplenomegaly, arrhythmia, and heart valve murmur.

Liver disease often presents with dull or sallow complexion, yellow skin and sclera, spider nevi on the face, neck or chest, or palms of the liver, varicose veins of the abdominal wall, hepatosplenomegaly and other signs.

Ascites caused by kidney disease may have signs such as pale complexion and peripheral edema. Flushed complexion, fever, abdominal tenderness, and a pliable abdominal wall may indicate tuberculous peritonitis.

Patients with weight loss, cachexia, swollen lymph nodes or abdominal masses are mostly suffering from malignant tumors.