Patho:
G.G. is diagnosed with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, for G.G. he had Hepatitis C. Each time your liver is injured it tries to repair itself. And during this process, scarring is formed and usually can’t be reversed. As cirrhosis progresses, more scar tissue forms, decreasing liver function. This structural change has led to Portal Hypertension and causing increased hepatic resistance. Due to the high hydrostatic pressure in the vasculature, and the low levels of albumin, which the liver produced but can’t as effectively with all the scarring, there is low oncotic pressure, causing the ascites. This abnormal amount of fluid buildup in the abdomen causes hypotension as all the fluid is being pushed into that third spacing, and less fluid in the vasculature. This can lead to increased heart rate which in turn increases hydrostatic pressure, which continues to feed into the loss of fluid into the third space. G.G. suffers from HTN and Hyperlipidemia which also contributes to this issue. His high sodium diet also contributes to his retaining of fluid which is then pushed into the peritoneal cavity.