Choosing the location for non-image guided abdominal paracentesis.
OBJECTIVE
The optimal location for paracentesis has not been studied scientifically. The evolving obesity epidemic has changed the physique of many patients with cirrhosis and ascites such that needles inserted into the abdominal wall may not reach fluid. We aimed to determine the location for paracentesis that would have the thinnest abdominal wall and the deepest amount of fluid.


METHODS
Ultrasound measurements of abdominal wall thickness and depth of ascites were recorded in two locations, the infraumbilical midline (ML) and the left lower quadrant (LLQ), in 52 patients with cirrhosis and ascites admitted to a single inpatient liver unit.


RESULTS
The abdominal wall was significantly thinner (1.8 vs. 2.4 cm; P<0.001) and the depth of ascites greater (2.86 vs. 2.29 cm; P=0.017) in the LLQ as compared with the infraumbilical ML position. In the left lateral oblique position, the difference in the depth of ascites was more pronounced when comparing the LLQ with the infraumbilical ML (4.57 vs. 2.78 cm; P<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The LLQ is preferable to the ML infraumbilical location for performing paracentesis.
Sakai
Hideki
H
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Kashiwa City Hospital, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
Sheer
Todd A
TA
Mendler
Michel H
MH
Runyon
Bruce A
BA
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography