Characterization of Abdominal Organs among Patients with Ascites using Ultrasound

Abstract

Ascites is an accumulation of excessive fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The study aims to determine the sonographic appearances of the abdominal organs among patients having ascites. The study design was a cross sectional facility base study. Twenty nine patients were selected. Independent variable: Ascites. Dependent variables: Liver echogenisity, size, volume and width; pancreas echogenisity, size, volume and width; spleen echogenisity, size, volume and width; and kidney echogenisity, size, volume and width. Investigation was done using abdominal ultrasound. Personal data (age, and sex) was obtained by direct interview. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Chi square test at 95% CL was considered statistically significant. The results of the study revealed that about 65.5% of the respondents were male; 31% were in the age group (66-80) years, followed (24.1%) by the age group (51-65) years, and the least one (3.4%) was the age group (21-35) years; the mean age was 56.96 years; minimum age was 8 years; and maximum age was 88 years. The percentage of increased liver echogenesity, volume, width, and diameter, was found to be high among respondents. The volume, width, and diameter of the portal vein were found to be increased among most of the respondents. The width and diameter of the spleen was increased among most of the respondents. Involvement of the liver was quite obvious among patients having ascites. Conduction of a research to correlate the sonographic findings with diagnosis of the disease is highly recommended.