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Review
. 2017 Aug 1;115(4):385-390.
doi: 10.5546/aap.2017.eng.385.

Management of cirrhotic ascites in children. Review and recommendations. Part 1: Pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, hospitalization criteria, treatment, nutritional management

[Article in English, Spanish]
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Management of cirrhotic ascites in children. Review and recommendations. Part 1: Pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, hospitalization criteria, treatment, nutritional management

[Article in English, Spanish]
David F Bes et al. Arch Argent Pediatr. .
Free article

Abstract

Ascites is a major complication of cirrhosis. There are several evidence-based articles and guidelines for the management of adults, but few data have been published in relation to children. In the case of pediatric patients with cirrhotic ascites (PPCA), the following questions are raised: How are the clinical assessment and ancillary tests performed? When is ascites considered refractory? How is it treated? Should fresh plasma and platelets be infused before abdominal paracentesis to prevent bleeding? What are the hospitalization criteria? What are the indicated treatments? What complications can patients develop? When and how should hyponatremia be treated? What are the diagnostic criteria for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis? How is it treated? What is hepatorenal syndrome? How is it treated? When should albumin be infused? When should fluid intake be restricted? The recommendations made here are based on pathophysiology and suggest the preferred approach to its diagnostic and therapeutic aspects, and preventive care.

La ascitis es una complicación grave de la cirrosis. Existen numerosos artículos y guías basadas en la evidencia para adultos, pero poco se ha publicado para niños. Ante un paciente pediátrico con ascitis secundaria a cirrosis (PPAC), se plantean las siguientes preguntas: ¿Cómo se realiza la evaluación clínica y los exámenes complementarios? ¿Cuándo se considera que la ascitis es refractaria; cómo se trata? ¿Debe infundirse plasma fresco y plaquetas antes de la paracentesis abdominal para evitar el sangrado? ¿Cuáles son los criterios de hospitalización? ¿Cuáles son los tratamientos indicados? ¿Qué complicaciones puede presentar? ¿Cuándo y cómo debe tratarse la hiponatremia? ¿Qué criterios diagnósticos tiene la peritonitis bacteriana espontánea; cómo se trata? ¿Qué es el síndrome hepatorrenal; cómo se trata? ¿Cuándo debe infundirse albúmina? ¿Cuándo debe restringirse el aporte líquido? Las recomendaciones que efectuamos, basadas en la fisiopatología, sugieren el enfoque preferido para encarar sus aspectos diagnósticos, terapéuticos y los cuidados preventivos.

Keywords: albumin; hepatorenal syndrome; hyponatremia; portal hypertension; spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

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