Aug 24, 2021
Contributor: Peter Bakes, MD
Educational Pearls:
- Paracentesis is a procedure where fluid is removed from the peritoneal cavity by needle
- Indications for paracentesis include: large volume paracentesis (5-6L), diagnosis of transudative or exudative ascites, evaluation for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)
- Infection of ascitic fluid is more likely in transudative processes due to the increased frequency of paracentesis
- E coli is the most common pathogen to cause SBP
- Treatment with 3rd generation cephalosporin, like ceftriaxone
References
Summarized by John Spartz, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD