TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Peritoneal Fluid A1 - Pfennig, Camiron L. A1 - Brown, B. Ethan A2 - Knoop, Kevin J. A2 - Stack, Lawrence B. A2 - Storrow, Alan B. A2 - Thurman, R. Jason Y1 - 2021 N1 - T2 - The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e AB - Cirrhosis, cancer, heart failure, tuberculosis, and dialysis account for 97% of cases of ascites, the accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity. Paracentesis is performed when the ascites is new or the cause of the ascites is unclear (diagnostic tap) or when the patient becomes symptomatic (abdominal pain, shortness of breath, fever) (therapeutic tap). Gross appearance of peritoneal fluid provides a clue to the cause of the ascites. Uncomplicated ascitic fluid in cirrhosis is transparent and yellow. Ascitic fluid can be completely clear if the bilirubin is normal. Turbid or cloudy fluid suggests infection (peritonitis) (see Figs. 25.60 and 25.61). Milky fluid has a high triglyceride level and is considered chylous ascites. Pink or bloody fluid is due to a “traumatic tap,” which clears over time, or malignancy, which is heterogeneous. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181053124 ER -