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Ascites puncture (paracentesis)

Question
Dear expert team,

From what point onwards can ascites puncture (paracentesis) out of therapeutic indication (rapid relief of dyspnea or abdominal pain as a result of large amounts of ascites) make sense? Is it likely that ascites will reoccur in the stomach soon?

Kind regards.
Answer
Hello,

Since you are contacting a cystic fibrosis (CF) expert group with your question, I assume you have CF. The occurrence of ascites in CF can be linked to concomitant diseases or complications of the underlying disease, but it can also have other causes. For instance, ascites can occur in diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, right heart failure, albumin deficiency, tumour diseases and others. Ascites treatment is dependent on the cause, and the decision about ascites puncture for relief can and must be made on a case-by-case basis. Without knowing your clinical background and your diagnostic findings, and without having examined you, we cannot answer your question, much less so over the internet. Overall, one can only say that, in case of massive amounts of abdominal liquid, ascites punctures can be performed for relief and for ease of breathing, apart from treating the cause of ascites. Repeated punctures may sometimes be necessary, since it is possible with particular disease constellations for ascites to occur again after puncture of the liquid.

Kind regards
Dr. Christina Smaczny
30.07.2012