title: Diagnosing ascites: the value of abdominal paracentesis.
abstract: Abdominal paracentesis is a useful and safe technique in the evaluation of ascites. The withdrawn ascitic fluid should be routinely analyzed for appearance, blood cell count, and amylase and total protein concentrations; examined cytologically; and cultured. Results should either substantiate the clinical diagnosis or alert the clinician to the presence of previously unsuspected disease.
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011677:Punctures
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins