Failure of the Peritoneal-Button Operation for Ascites

Abstract

THE surgical treatment of patients with recurrent massive ascites that requires frequent abdominal paracentesis has long been a challenging problem. Operative procedures designed to remedy the defect have carried an appreciable mortality, particularly in patients with portal obstruction due to hepatic cirrhosis who develop ascites relatively late in the course of the disease. Such procedures fall into several well defined groups. Some of these are designed merely to rid the patient of an oppressive volume of fluid; others attempt to eliminate factors in the production of ascitic fluid, and still others attempt to improve the body economy by returning water, . . .