watercolor drawing of the abdomen of a child affected with ascites. The venous radicles and the small arterioles are like affected. Drawn by Thomas Godart, 1882. Ascites is a gastroenterological term for an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The medical condition is also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, hydroperitoneum or more archaically as abdominal dropsy. Although most commonly due to cirrhosis, severe liver disease or metastatic cancer, its presence can portend other significant medical problems such as Budd-Chiari syndrome.