BACKGROUND Ascites is a common clinical sign noted in 3% to 4% of hospitalized medical patients. Nearly 94% of patients with ascites have non-malignant etiologies, with the most common being chronic ...

Methods: Patients with symptomatic ascites/pleural effusion for at least 3 weeks with a fluid amylase level of > 1000 S units/dl and underlying pancreatic disease were included. The interventions ...