In patients with ascites, what happens to the dullness on percussion when the patient is turned onto one side?

When a patient with ascites is turned onto one side, fluid in the abdominal cavity will shift due to gravity. As a result, the area where the fluid settles will change, leading to a shift in dullness on percussion when the abdomen is examined.

In this scenario, when the patient is positioned on their side, the dullness will shift to the more dependent side, which is the side that is now lower due to the change in position. The higher side will typically exhibit tympany, as air in the gastrointestinal tract is more likely to be present there compared to the side that has fluid (the dependent side).

This phenomenon is crucial for clinicians to recognize, as it helps in diagnosing and assessing the extent of ascites within a patient. Detecting this shift in dullness can lead to further investigation and management of underlying conditions that contribute to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity.