Paracentesis

paracentesis /para·cen·te·sis/ (-sen-te´sis )

Definition
Paracentesis is a procedure during which fluid from the abdomen is removed through a needle.

Purpose
There are two reasons to take fluid out of the abdomen. One is to analyze it. The other is to relieve pressure. Liquid that accumulates in the abdomen is called ascites. Ascites seeps out of organs for several reasons related either to disease in the organ or fluid pressures that are changing. - Liver disease - Infections - Kidney disease - Heart failure - Pleural fluid - Cancer Any [|cancer] that begins in or spreads to the abdomen can leak fluid. One particular tumor of the ovary that leaks fluid, the resulting presentation of the disease, is Meigs' syndrome.

Before Care
Consent should be obtained for the procedure after discussion of the possible complications (discussed below). The area beneath the umbilicus is cleansed with betadine or other antibacterial solution, and local anesthetic administered.

Description
During paracentesis, special needles puncture the abdominal wall, being careful not to hit internal organs. If fluid is needed only for analysis, just a bit is removed. If pressure relief is an additional goal, many quarts may be removed. Rapid removal of large amounts of fluid can cause blood pressure to drop suddenly. For this reason, the physician will often leave a tube in place so that fluid can be removed slowly, giving the circulation time to adapt.

Fluid is sent to the laboratory for testing, where cancer and blood cells can be detected, infections identified, and chemical analysis can direct further investigations.

There is a YouTube video that is attached below for your viewing.

Aftercare
An adhesive bandage and perhaps a single stitch close the hole. Nothing more is required.

Risks
Risks are negligible. It is remotely possible that an organ could be punctured and bleed or that an infection could be introduced.

Video
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Resources
Books: Glickman, Robert M. "Abdominal Swelling and Ascites." In //Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine//, edited by Anthony S. Fauci, et al. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. http://medical-dictionary.thefree dictionary.com/paracentesis http://www.enotes.com/paracentesis-reference/paracentesis-172260