Water in the lungs instead of in the stomach
Ascites as a pathological accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity must be distinguished from the formation of fluid between the lung and pleura, which is also caused by the disease. It is a so-called pleural effusion. The composition of the fluid is cause-dependent and is analyzed as part of the diagnostic procedure.
An infectious event, tumorous diseases, changes in the blood composition, for example in liver cirrhosis, and consequences of a medical intervention can be the reason for the pleural effusion. Patients often complain of shortness of breath when the effusion increases rapidly. Ultrasound is the diagnostic tool of choice, as even the smallest volumes are detected.
The therapy depends on the severity of the symptoms. A thoracic drainage transports the fluid to the outside over a longer period of time. If water occurs in the lung tissue itself, this is called pulmonary edema. This can be due to heart failure, a disease of the lungs themselves or weakness of the kidneys. You can find out what you should do about water in the lungs under What you should do about water in the lungs!
Water in the abdomen after intracytoplasmic sperm injection
The intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI for short, as a method of artificial insemination is associated with a certain risk of complications. During the procedure, the ovaries are stimulated and encouraged to produce eggs. The ovaries increase in size due to increased follicle growth.
A certain amount of overstimulation is therefore deliberately induced and is often accompanied by mild abdominal discomfort. In rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can occur, in which the size of the ovaries increases sharply and is accompanied by ascites formation. Those affected complain of breathing difficulties and a feeling of pressure in the abdomen. Treatment in hospital, sometimes involving puncture of the abdomen, is appropriate.
Water in the abdomen during pregnancy
For women who suffer from cirrhosis of the liver, pregnancy is an additional burden.About one in five women will develop ascites at the end of pregnancy. One of the reasons for this is that the electrolyte balance is disrupted during pregnancy and this plays an important role in the distribution of fluid in the body. If water is detected in the abdomen during an ultrasound examination during pregnancy, this is initially no cause for concern. To a certain extent, this is quite normal. It should only be observed further in the course of the pregnancy.
