Hi.My dad is seriously ill with advanced prostrate cancer.his kidneys have already failed.Yesterday we were told his liver has raptured and just today we noticed that his tummy is swelling.He s already in palliative care and it is a really difficult time for the family.What s causing the swelling.He s also getting delusional.What is the explanation for this?He s 87 years old.
Hi. There are two factors at play here which may be responsible for the abdominal swelling. First, the kidney function to excrete extra body fluid along with wastes so when the kidneys do not function properly, it cannot excrete the fluid which ultimately accumulates in the body. Secondly, the liver makes proteins which keeps the fluid in the vessels. So when the liver becomes dysfunctional, it does not make the required proteins more specifically albumin, so it cannot keep the fluid in the vessels and the fluid extravasates into the peritoneal cavity. Hope that answers your question.