Drainage of ascites in cirrhosis

For cirrhotic refractory ascites,diuretics combined with albumin and vasoactive drugs are the first-line choice for ascites management.However,their therapeutic effects are limited,and most refractory ascites do not respond to medication treat-ment,necessitating consideration of drainage or surgical interventions.Con-sequently,numerous drainage methods for cirrhotic ascites have emerged,including large-volume paracentesis,transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt,peritoneovenous shunt,automated low-flow ascites pump,cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy,and peritoneal catheter drainage.This review introduces the advantages and disadvantages of these methods in different aspects,as well as indications and contraindications for this disease.

Alfapump®implantable device in management of refractory ascites:An update

Refractory ascites(RA)is a frequent and life-threatening complication of cirrhosis.In selected patients with RA,transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)placement and liver transplantation(LT)are currently considered the best therapeutic alternatives to repeated large volume paracentesis.In patients with a contraindication to TIPS or LT,the alfapump®system(Sequana Medical,Ghent,Belgium)has been developed to reduce the need for iterative paracentesis,and consequently to improve the quality of life and nutritional status.We report here recent data on technical progress made since the first implantation,the efficacy and tolerance of the device,the position of the pump in the therapeutic arsenal for refractory ascites,and the grey areas that remain to be clarified regarding the optimal selection of patients who are potential candidates for this treatment.