Because ascitic fluid is slow to re-equilibrate with vascular fluid, diuresis greater than 0.5 to 1 kg/day (>0.5–1 L) may be associated with volume depletion, hypotension, and compro- mised renal function.38 Patients may tolerate a faster diure- sis if peripheral edema is present. Once edema has resolved, a scaled-back weight loss, not to exceed 0.5 kg/day, can be used as a rule of thumb to minimize the risk of renal insuffi- ciency induced by plasma volume contraction and other diuretic- induced complications.38,68 Monitoring body weight and abdom- inal girth are routinely performed in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Monitoring fluid intake and urine output are performed primarily for inpatients, owing to practical constraints intheoutpatientsetting.Ideally,urineoutputshouldexceedfluid intake by about 300 to 1,000 mL/day. These measurements do not account for nonrenal fluid losses; therefore, total fluid loss will be somewhat higher. Abdominal girth measurement (cir- cumference around the abdomen) is subject to error, because of its dependence on patient position and measurement loca- tion on the abdomen.69 Attempts should be made to standardize patient position (e.g., sitting at a 45-degree angle) and location of measurement (level of umbilicus) to minimize variability in abdominal girth measurements.