Head-out water immersion has been proposed as an adjuvant treatment in refractory ascites and hepatorenal syndrome. We undertook this study to present the results of management of patients with refractory ascites. We included 10 patients with diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis and refractory ascites. Variables were measured in four stages: stage I (basal); II (at the end of water immersion); III (72 h after water immersion); IV (1 week after water immersion concludes). Clinical and laboratory variables were measured and included general exams and renal function tests. Friedman test was used for statistics to establish differences between variables at the end of stage IV. We considered statistical significance when p