ABDOMINAL PUNCTURE
Removal of fluid from the abdomen at home.
Fluid in the abdomen (ascitic fluid) accumulates due to various causes, the most common of which are:
- Cancer (ovarian, pancreatic, bowel).
- Liver cirrhosis.
When the amount of ascitic fluid is significant, it prevents the descent of the diaphragm during inhalation, resulting in great discomfort for the patient.
In these cases, ventral puncture is indicated.
Abdominal puncture is performed safely in the home environment, with ultrasound guidance.
After locating (using ultrasound) the point of maximum fluid accumulation, local anesthesia of the skin and underlying layers of the abdominal wall is performed and a catheter is inserted. Removal is a simple process.
If there is no diagnosis, a sample of the fluid is sent for cytology and other biochemical tests.
If the amount of fluid to be removed is large, intravenous administration of human albumin is recommended to prevent rapid movement of fluid from the intravascular space into the peritoneal cavity.
Unlike the frequent accumulation of fluid in the chest which is treated with pleurodesis, in the case of recurrent ascitic effusion there is no cure.
The liquid that is removed, in addition to water, also contains useful elements for the body such as albumins and iron. Although these elements in the place they are (ascitic cavity) are completely useless, the rapid replenishment of the fluid after emptying, removes new amounts of such useful substances from the body. For this reason:
Patient discomfort is the only criterion for ventral puncture.
