A paracentesis procedure drains excess fluid (ascites) from the abdomen, a common symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma. Doctors can analyze the fluid to diagnose the cause of the buildup, or they may perform a paracentesis to decompress a swollen abdomen and thereby relieve stomach pain and breathing difficulty.
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Paracentesis, sometimes called an abdominal tap or ascites tap, is a type of minor surgery. A doctor uses a hollow needle to take away extra fluid from the patient’s belly.
The inside of your abdomen has a lining that separates the organs from the abdominal wall. There is a small amount of liquid between these two layers. When more than an ounce (30 ml) of fluid develops in the peritoneal cavity, it is called ascites or ascitic fluid.
When too much ascitic fluid builds up in the peritoneal space, it puts pressure on the abdominal organs and the diaphragm. This accumulation of ascitic fluid can be caused by infection, injury, liver damage or cancer. Ascites is commonly found in cases of peritoneal mesothelioma.
If the purpose is only to diagnose the cause of the ascites, a doctor may take as little as 50 mL of fluid for analysis. In a therapeutic paracentesis, a doctor may drain a liter of fluid or more. A 2021 research report said a paracentesis may also help improve the clarity of radiological imaging.
Can a Paracentesis Diagnose Mesothelioma?
Paracentesis can help ease the signs of peritoneal mesothelioma, but it is not a good way to tell if someone has this uncommon type of cancer. Even when someone does have cancer, the cells in their ascitic fluid may look normal. This is why doctors need to take out some tissue and examine it closely (called a biopsy) instead of only looking at the cells from the drained fluid.
Ascites is seen in a majority of mesothelioma cases, but paracentesis and cytology of ascitic fluid is generally not a reliable approach for diagnosing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can only be definitively diagnosed by surgical biopsy with histological analysis.
Ascites often develops in people with peritoneal mesothelioma. That’s because widespread abdominal tumors can cause a condition known as peritoneal carcinomatosis. Tumors can damage the abdominal lining and block the flow of fluid in and out of these tissues. They also weaken cells in the abdominal wall that prevent protein and fat from leaking out of blood vessels into the abdomen.
Ascites Leads to Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Epifanio says his symptoms began when his stomach started swelling and wouldn’t stop. He went to a doctor who told him fluid was accumulating in his peritoneal cavity. The condition is known as peritoneal effusion or ascites. The peritoneal fluid can collect in the abdomen causing swelling or pain. “So we went to a hospital called Memorial West in Florida and from there they told us they weren’t sure,” Epifanio recounted. “So we went to Cleveland Clinic and they diagnosed me with mesothelioma. That was in 2016.”
Paracentesis is a simple procedure that doesn’t require you to stay in the hospital. It can help make people with cancer feel better and improve their quality of life, no matter what stage they’re at.
Its main limitation is that it is a palliative treatment, and it does not prevent the patient from developing ascites again.
Many peritoneal mesothelioma patients have a high rate of ascites recurrence. Rather than repeating it, doctors prefer to leave a catheter in place to continuously drain the peritoneal cavity.
If tumor development causes the fluid to become loculated, a paracentesis will be less effective. Loculated means the fluid builds up in smaller spaces in the abdomen and does not flow freely in the peritoneal cavity.
Surgery with heated chemotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma. A 2016 review noted that HIPEC successfully controls ascites in more than 90% of patients.
A paracentesis is a safe and effective way of removing unwanted fluid buildup in the abdominal area. Your doctor may suggest this procedure to relieve abdominal pressure, and it can often help to understand why it accumulated. It only takes about a half hour and causes minimal discomfort.
Surgical Consultation for Paracentesis
If you think paracentesis might be a good option for your mesothelioma, you can meet with the surgeon and their team to learn more about it. During a consultation, you will meet with the surgeon and the surgical team.
They will take a look at your medical history to see if this procedure is suitable for you. During the appointment, they’ll also answer any questions or worries that you have about paracentesis.
The surgical team will review everything you need to know to prepare for and recover from a paracentesis. These consultations are an important part of vetting patients for surgery. They also help patients prepare for the procedure. They may be conducted in person or virtually through video conferencing.
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Paracentesis is often performed as an outpatient procedure, taking approximately 20 to 30 minutes. In many cases, an ultrasound is first administered to visualize the size and scope of the ascitic fluid buildup.
After the bladder is empty, the patient lays on a bed elevated at a 45-degree angle to allow fluid to accumulate in the lower abdomen. The doctor cleans the insertion site with antiseptic and numbs it with a local anesthetic before inserting a large-bore needle to reach the peritoneal cavity.
Diagram showing how a paracentesis drains ascites or fluid buildup.
Once the ascitic fluid begins to flow, the cavity is drained by gravity, a syringe or a connection to a vacuum bottle. Doctors typically drain only one liter of fluid at a time, no faster than 500 mL every 10 minutes. This allows the body to equilibrate fluids and electrolytes. If several liters of fluid are drained during the procedure, the patient may receive serum albumin to replace lost fluid, prevent a drop in blood pressure and reduce the risk of shock.
After the desired level of drainage is complete, the doctor covers the insertion site with a sterile dressing and a small suture, if necessary. Alternatively, if the procedure is going to be repeated, a catheter with a flow-control valve and protective dressing can be left in place. The patient is usually discharged within a few hours, provided their blood pressure is normal and they have no feeling of dizziness.
Risks and Complications
A paracentesis is a fairly simple procedure that presents very few risks. Rare complications can happen. If you are worried about the procedure, you can ask your doctor about your risk of experiencing a complication.
Rare Complications Associated With Paracentesis
Infection
Persistent leak from the insertion site
Abdominal wall hematoma (collection of blood outside a blood vessel)
Perforation of the small or large intestine, stomach or bladder
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
One documented complication that occurred in a patient with peritoneal mesothelioma was the repeated occurrence of a pneumothorax after a paracentesis procedure. A pneumothorax occurs when air builds up in the space around the lungs and doesn’t allow the lungs to expand fully. This is a rare complication, but doctors feel it should be considered in patients with pre-existing pulmonary disease.
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Selby, K. (2024, August 29). Paracentesis for Mesothelioma. Asbestos.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/surgery/paracentesis/
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Selby, Karen. "Paracentesis for Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com, 29 Aug 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/surgery/paracentesis/.
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Selby, Karen. "Paracentesis for Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com. Last modified August 29, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/surgery/paracentesis/.
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Dr. Daniel Landau is the Medical Director of Virtual Hematology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He has served in several leadership roles and developed telehealth services at several cancer centers.
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