Invitation to Consult at the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai Medical College—Liver Cirrhosis with Ascites on August 25, 1995

Invitation to Consult at the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai Medical College—Liver Cirrhosis with Ascites on August 25, 1995

Mr. Ye underwent gastric cancer surgery in 1993 and was diagnosed with enlarged abdominal lymph nodes and a 4.5cm thick spleen one year ago. He had also undergone chemotherapy. Over the past three months, his ascites rapidly increased; the Qinghai Medical College performed seven paracenteses, draining a total of 5,000mL. Upon examination, the patient was severely emaciated, fatigued, bedridden, with no jaundice in the sclera or throughout the body. Gastroscopy revealed a remnant stomach with no signs of cancer recurrence. His abdomen was highly distended, with ascites (+++), and swelling in the lower limbs. Routine ascites cell count was "zero." I said, "This patient has not undergone abdominal ultrasound recently, so liver metastasis cannot be confirmed. The spleen is enlarged, the ascites is pale yellow, and there is no bloody ascites. The causes of the ascites are: ①liver cirrhosis; ②tumor compressing the portal vein?" Given this situation, diuretics and supportive care, if administered properly, may allow the patient to survive for more than a year. Diuretics: no more paracenteses; furosemide and Liver Cirrhosis Capsules are sufficient! Supportive care: albumin, plasma, and branched-chain amino acids. The hospital director and expert professors present were all highly impressed. Following this treatment plan, the patient’s spirits improved after two weeks, his physical strength recovered, and the ascites completely disappeared.