Ascites Care at Mayo Clinic
Your Mayo Clinic care team
At Mayo Clinic, people with ascites receive care from a team of specialists who work together to find the cause of fluid buildup and guide care. Depending on the underlying condition, this team may include hepatologists, who specialize in liver disease, and gastroenterologists, who focus on the digestive system, along with radiologists, dietitians and other specialists.
When ascites is related to conditions outside of the liver, care may involve other specialists. These can include oncologists for cancer-related causes, cardiologists for heart conditions that affect fluid flow, and nephrologists for kidney conditions that influence fluid balance.
For people with advanced liver disease, the care team also may include liver transplant specialists from Mayo Clinic's three-site Liver Transplant Program. These specialists have extensive experience evaluating and caring for people who may need liver transplantation, including those whose liver disease has led to complications such as ascites.
This team-based approach allows specialists to share expertise and coordinate care, so decisions reflect the full picture of your health.
Advanced diagnosis and treatment
Mayo Clinic specialists use advanced tools and work together as a team to diagnose ascites, find its cause and plan treatment. Since many conditions can lead to ascites, careful evaluation is an important first step.
- Advanced diagnosis. Care teams use imaging tests, blood tests and fluid analysis to find out why fluid is building up and how it affects the body. Tests such as ultrasound, CT scans or MRI help check fluid levels and look at the liver, heart and other organs. If needed, testing the fluid itself can give more information about the underlying cause.
- Advanced treatment and research. Treatment for ascites is personalized and depends on what is causing the fluid buildup and how severe it is. Mayo Clinic specialists have extensive experience caring for people with ascites related to liver disease, cancer, heart conditions and kidney disease. These specialists also participate in research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of ascites, including studies on ascites that is hard to treat. This research helps guide care and gives people access to new treatment options.
Pediatric expertise
Ascites is uncommon in children and often has different causes than in adults. In infants and children, it can be related to liver conditions, heart or kidney disease, infections, or cancer, among other causes.
At Mayo Clinic, children with ascites are cared for by pediatric specialists who have experience diagnosing and treating conditions that affect fluid balance. Depending on the cause of fluid buildup, care may involve pediatric hepatologists, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, oncologists and radiologists, who work together to guide evaluation and care.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Children's in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
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Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
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Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.