Intraabdominal pressure and resorption of ascites in decompensated liver cirrhosis.

We determined the levels of total intraabdominal pressure and the tension resulting from the distention of the abdominal wall in 12 patients with ascites resulting from alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. The measurements were performed first when ascites was tense, and were repeated later when ascites became non-tense with treatment. Using intraperitoneal injections of 131I-labeled human serum albumin, we measured the ascites volume and the resorption of albumin from the ascitic compartment at the same time as the pressure studies. Reduction in intra-abdominal pressure from 29.5 +/- 4.1 to 21.7 +/- 6.0 cm H2O (p less than 0.001) and in tension from 8.3 +/- 2.7 to 2.9 +/- 1.6 cm H2O (p less than 0.001) did not result in significant changes in resorption of albumin from the peritoneal cavity. Lowering of intra-abdominal pressure was not associated with any change in the volume of the resorbed ascitic fluid or the amount of albumin resorbed. We conclude that the ascites resorption rate in cirrhosis is not linearly related to intra-abdominal pressure and that in tense ascites, the decreased permeability of the parietal peritoneum counteracts the effects of the increased intra-abdominal pressure on albumin resorption. Cirrhotic ascites is associated with a changing permeability of the peritoneal membrane.