TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk of Complications After Abdominal Paracentesis in Cirrhotic Patients: A Prospective Study
AU - De Gottardi, Andrea
AU - Thévenot, Thierry
AU - Spahr, Laurent
AU - Morard, Isabelle
AU - Bresson-Hadni, Solange
AU - Torres, Ferran
AU - Giostra, Emiliano
AU - Hadengue, Antoine
PY - 2009/8/1
Y1 - 2009/8/1
N2 - 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 (<50 109/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. © 2009 AGA Institute.
AB - 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 (<50 109/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. © 2009 AGA Institute.
U2 - 10.1016/j.cgh.2009.05.004
DO - 10.1016/j.cgh.2009.05.004
M3 - Article
VL - 7
SP - 906
EP - 909
JO - Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
JF - Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
SN - 1542-3565
IS - 8
ER -