Ascites

My Dad was dx with Pancreatic cancer Feb. 2007.   I am blown away at how aggressive this disease is. 

He has developed ascites.  He has had 4 liters removed the first week and 6.5 liters removed last week.  And he needs another parencentisits.  Does anyone have experience with this.  Is there anytype of drains that can be used.  He is so weak after the parencentesis he can hardly walk.  He was hospitalized over the weekend for dehydration....Of course wtih the fluids now the ascites is back.  

My husband was diagnosed with PC October, 2005.  He went through months of chemotherapy and then chemo in conjunction with radiation.  He had successful whipple surgery in October 2006.  He then had follow up chemo for another four months.  From January 2007 - he started having problems with ascites.  He has gone weekly, and sometimes more frequently for draining.  Thusfar, since January he has had over 165 liters removed.  Today was another 9 liters.  We too are looking for a more permanent answer to the fluid problem. 

Good Luck and keep me posted on any information you might receive regarding this problem. 

On 7/19/2007 justus wrote:

My husband was diagnosed with PC October, 2005.  He went through months of chemotherapy and then chemo in conjunction with radiation.  He had successful whipple surgery in October 2006.  He then had follow up chemo for another four months.  From January 2007 - he started having problems with ascites.  He has gone weekly, and sometimes more frequently for draining.  Thusfar, since January he has had over 165 liters removed.  Today was another 9 liters.  We too are looking for a more permanent answer to the fluid problem. 

Good Luck and keep me posted on any information you might receive regarding this problem. 

 

I can totally relate to your story.  My mother has pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with mets to the liver and then began having ascities.  She had a Denver shunt put in at Duke to help recirculate the fluid throughout her body.  Her first shunt clotted shortly after having it put in and she was then having to be continually drained and losing so much protein and being weak. She went back to Duke and had it fixed and it has worked great ever since and its been almost a year.  No more draining. This has totally been a god send for her and getting to do more. I highly recommend this if it is an option.  It is an old technique and must be done by a surgeon who totally knows what they are doing.  The nursing staff also needs to be able to help the patient learn how to use it.  You have to pump the indwelling tubing every day.  But it is totally worth it.  I recommend Dr McCann at Duke University in North Carolina.  Hope this helps

stanzi

On 8/22/2007 stanzi wrote:

 

On 7/19/2007 justus wrote:

My husband was diagnosed with PC October, 2005.  He went through months of chemotherapy and then chemo in conjunction with radiation.  He had successful whipple surgery in October 2006.  He then had follow up chemo for another four months.  From January 2007 - he started having problems with ascites.  He has gone weekly, and sometimes more frequently for draining.  Thusfar, since January he has had over 165 liters removed.  Today was another 9 liters.  We too are looking for a more permanent answer to the fluid problem. 

Good Luck and keep me posted on any information you might receive regarding this problem. 

 

I can totally relate to your story.  My mother has pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with mets to the liver and then began having ascities.  She had a Denver shunt put in at Duke to help recirculate the fluid throughout her body.  Her first shunt clotted shortly after having it put in and she was then having to be continually drained and losing so much protein and being weak. She went back to Duke and had it fixed and it has worked great ever since and its been almost a year.  No more draining. This has totally been a god send for her and getting to do more. I highly recommend this if it is an option.  It is an old technique and must be done by a surgeon who totally knows what they are doing.  The nursing staff also needs to be able to help the patient learn how to use it.  You have to pump the indwelling tubing every day.  But it is totally worth it.  I recommend Dr McCann at Duke University in North Carolina.  Hope this helps

stanzi

 

May I ask how much fluid was being taken out before the Denver shunt was put in? Also how is her quality of life with this? My wife has a quite a bit of fluid and the doctor is recomending this procedure. I am encouraged by you story. Thanks