Prevalence and risk factors of lymphatic dysfunction in cirrhosis patients with refractory ascites: An often unconsidered mechanism

Figure 1 Flow-diagram showing selection, evaluation, and categorization of study population based on lymphatic dysfunction. A total of 280 cirrhosis patients with refractory ascites were screened, and eventually 155 patients were found to be eligible based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subsequent to evaluation, 69 (44.5%) patients were found to have evidence of lymphatic dysfunction in the form of lymphedema, intestinal lymphangiectasia, and chylous ascites, either alone or in combination. CHF: Congestive heart failure; D2: Second part of duodenum; GI: Gastrointestinal; HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; H/o: History of.