Indications

  • Therapeutic paracentesis may be performed in the emergency setting to relieve the cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal manifestations of tense ascites
  • Diagnostic paracentesis is indicated in patients with new-onset ascites
  • Diagnostic paracentesis is indicated to determine the presence of infection in patients with known or suspected ascites
  • Diagnostic paracentesis is also useful in the management of AIDS patients, in whom the etiology of ascites will be non-AIDS related in 75%
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