Chronic recurrent biliary ascites: An unusual scenario

Abstract

Biliary ascites in adults occurs most often as a complication of biliary procedures - endoscopic, radiologic or operative, but can occur after trauma as well. Once suspected, evaluation should include diagnostic paracentesis to determine the ascitic fluid bilirubin level as well as HIDA scanning or MRCP to rule out extravasation from the biliary tree. Treatment is directed primarily at surgical repair of the injury/defect or decompression of the biliary tree. To our knowledge, chronic recurrent painless slowly accumulating biliary ascites with no preceding history of biliary obstruction/surgery or trauma has never been reported before.

Keywords

• biliary ascites
• ascites