paracentesis

Paracentesis is a procedure in which a doctor inserts a thin needle or small catheter through the abdominal wall to draw out fluid that has built up in the abdominal cavity (a condition called ascites). The fluid can be sent to a lab to look for the cause of the buildup, or drained in larger amounts to relieve pressure, pain, and breathing difficulty.

Origin

The word comes from the Greek para (beside) and kentesis (a piercing or puncture). The technique of draining abdominal fluid has been described in medical writing since antiquity and became a standardized bedside procedure in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For asbestos patients, paracentesis is most relevant to peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdomen that often causes fluid to accumulate. The fluid removed during paracentesis can be examined under a microscope (cytology) and tested with special stains and markers to help diagnose mesothelioma, though a tissue biopsy is usually still needed for a definitive diagnosis. Repeat paracentesis is also used to manage symptoms when ascites keeps returning, and the results (including fluid volumes, cytology reports, and dates) become important parts of the medical record used to document the disease and its progression in a legal claim.

Example Sentence

After his abdomen became swollen and uncomfortable, his oncologist performed a paracentesis that drained three liters of fluid and was sent for cytology to confirm peritoneal mesothelioma.

Related Terms

Peritoneal Mesothelioma, Ascites, Thoracentesis, Cytology, Pleural Effusion, Biopsy

Notes

• Ask your doctor whether the fluid will be sent for cytology and for mesothelioma-specific markers (such as calretinin, WT-1, and BAP1). A negative cytology does not rule out mesothelioma, and a tissue biopsy may still be needed.
• Request and keep copies of every paracentesis report, including the volume of fluid removed, the date, and the pathology results; these documents help establish the timeline of disease in both medical care and any legal claim.
• If you are having paracentesis repeatedly, ask about an indwelling drainage catheter (such as a PleurX-type catheter) that can be used at home to reduce hospital visits.
• Tell your medical team about any blood thinners you take before the procedure, and report fever, increasing pain, or leakage at the puncture site afterward.