Ascites (cont.)Medical Author:
Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH
Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPHDr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management. Medical Editor:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. In this Article
 What is the outlook (prognosis) for ascites?The outlook on ascites primarily depends on its underlying cause and severity. In general, the prognosis of malignant ascites is poor. Most cases have a mean survival time between 20 to 58 weeks, depending on the type of malignancy as shown by a group of investigators. Ascites due to cirrhosis usually is a sign of advanced liver disease and it usually has a fair prognosis (3 year survival about 50%). Ascites due to heart failure has a fair prognosis as the patient may live years with appropriate treatments (survival averaged about 1.7 years for men and about 3.8 for women in one large study). Ascites At A Glance
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Last Editorial Review: 7/13/2009 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Ascites - Risks and Causes
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Ascites - Symptoms
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Ascites - Diagnosis
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Ascites - Treatment
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