title: Malignant ascites. A comparison of peritoneovenous shunting and nonoperative management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective palliation of malignant ascites remains a difficult management problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five patients with malignant ascites were studied. Forty-two patients had peritoneovenous shunts (PVS) inserted (16 LeVeen, 17 single-valve Denver, 9 double-valve Denver).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shunt patency was not related to the type of shunt, type of cancer, or any characteristic of the ascitic fluid. Ascites was controlled in 64% of patients with shunts and serum albumin levels were preserved. Survival and quality of life were not significantly different in comparison with those of patients treated by abdominal paracentesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PVS allowed many patients to be treated successfully outside the hospital and are indicated in carefully selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Gough
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Balderson
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010166:Palliative Care; D010536:Peritoneovenous Shunt; D013396:Suction
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005337:Fibrin