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Risk of complications after abdominal paracentesis in cirrhotic patients: a prospective study |
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Published in | Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology. 2009, vol. 7, no. 8, p. 906-909 | |
Abstract | BACKGROUND & AIMS: Complications and technical problems of paracentesis in cirrhotic patients are infrequent. However, the severity and the incidence of these events and their risk factors have not been assessed prospectively. METHODS: Cirrhotic patients (n = 171) undergoing paracentesis were included. Of the 515 paracenteses, 8.8% were diagnostic, and 91.2% were therapeutic. Technical features, demographic data, and adverse events during a period of 72 hours after the procedure were examined. RESULTS: Major complications occurred in 1.6% of procedures and included 5 bleedings and 3 infections, resulting in death in 2 cases. Major complications were associated with therapeutic but not diagnostic procedures and tended to be more prevalent in patients with low platelet count (<50 10(9)/L), Child-Pugh stage C, and in alcoholic cirrhosis patients. Technical problems occurred in 5.6%. The most frequent complication was a leak of ascites at the puncture site (5.0%), and in 89.5% there were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: The safety of paracentesis in cirrhotic patients might be decreased if risk factors, which depend on the characteristics of the patient and of the procedure itself, are present. | |
Keywords | Ascites/*therapy — Humans — Liver Cirrhosis/*complications/therapy — Middle Aged — Paracentesis/*adverse effects — Platelet Count — Postoperative Complications/*epidemiology/etiology/mortality — Prospective Studies — *Risk Factors — Severity of Illness Index | |
Identifiers | PMID: 19447197 | |
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Citation (ISO format) | DE GOTTARDI, Andrea et al. Risk of complications after abdominal paracentesis in cirrhotic patients: a prospective study. In: Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology, 2009, vol. 7, n° 8, p. 906-909. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2009.05.004 https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:19519 |