Will I need surgery for ascites?

Will I need surgery for ascites?

Sometimes, diuretics and a low-sodium diet aren’t enough to improve the ascites. You may need other treatments, including:

• Paracentesis: Your provider inserts a needle into your abdomen to remove the fluid. This procedure can remove a large amount of excess fluid.
• Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): This procedure is performed to treat fluid build-up in the abdomen. A wire mesh (stent) is inserted into a vein in your liver. When inflated, the stent forms a channel (shunt) to bypass the liver. TIPS may be appropriate if your ascites aren't responding to other therapies, if you need several paracenteses per month and you're not a candidate for a liver transplant.
• Liver transplant: In cases of severe cirrhosis, when the liver is failing, a liver transplant may be necessary.