Paracentesis
(Redirected from Peritoneocentesis)
Paracentesis[edit | edit source]
Paracentesis is a medical procedure involving the puncture of the abdominal wall to remove ascitic fluid from the peritoneal cavity. This procedure is primarily used for diagnostic purposes to analyze ascitic fluid in patients with conditions such as ascites, primarily due to cirrhosis, heart failure, or malignancies. Paracentesis can also be therapeutic, providing relief from symptoms associated with fluid accumulation.
Indications[edit | edit source]
Paracentesis is indicated for:
- Diagnosis of the etiology of new-onset ascites
- Evaluation of patients with known ascites presenting with fever, abdominal pain, or other signs of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)
- Relief of discomfort due to significant ascites
Procedure[edit | edit source]
The procedure involves:
- Pre-procedural assessment including coagulation status
- Patient positioning, typically sitting upright
- Skin sterilization and local anesthesia at the puncture site
- Insertion of a needle or catheter into the peritoneal cavity to withdraw fluid
- Fluid is then sent for analysis, which can include cell count, protein levels, and culture
Diagnostic Significance[edit | edit source]
Analysis of ascitic fluid can help diagnose:
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)
- Tuberculosis
- Malignancies
- Portal hypertension related to liver disease
Potential Complications[edit | edit source]
Though generally safe, paracentesis can occasionally lead to complications such as:
- Bleeding, especially in patients with coagulopathy
- Infection
- Perforation of the bowel
- Hypotension due to rapid removal of large volumes of fluid
Post-procedure Care[edit | edit source]
Patients typically require monitoring for signs of bleeding or infection post-procedure. In cases of large-volume paracentesis, albumin may be administered to prevent circulatory dysfunction.
See Also[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
| Paracentesis Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Kondreddy Naveen
