title: [Diminished peritoneal pain perception in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites].
abstract: Complete loss of parietal peritoneal sensitivity observed in a patient with long-standing ascites secondary to cirrhosis of the liver prompted an investigation of peritoneal sensitivity in 22 patients with the same condition. In all of them a decrease of the peritoneal sensitivity to needle perforation was found. All perceived peritoneal perforation as less painful than perforation of the abdominal skin by the same needle. In 8 control patients perforation of the peritoneum caused more discomfort than the perforation of the skin. In 7 cirrhotic patients where a histologic examination of the parietal peritoneum was available a chronic fibrotic peritonitis was present. Peritoneal insensitivity may partly account for mild abdominal symptoms in cirrhotics developing bacterial peritonitis.
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
vernacular_title: Verminderte peritoneale Schmerzempfindung bei Patienten mit Lebrzirrhose und Aszites.