In some individuals, fluid builds up in the peritoneal cavity of the body. The condition that results from this is known as ascites. Ascites occurs when there is some abnormality in the body which may be related to an infection, an inflammation or an insufficiency with respect to the circulation of blood in the body. In many cases, ascites may not cause a direct problem to the patient. However, the feeling of fullness, discomfort and pain may hamper the day to day activities of the individual. Ascites may also make it difficult for organs located in the abdominal cavity to perform their functions as they will be under increased pressure from the buildup of fluid within the cavity.
Therapeutic paracentesis is the process to drain some of this fluid with the aim of reducing the discomfort felt by the individual when he or she is suffering from the condition. In some cases, the therapeutic paracentesis procedure will allow the individual to breathe easier and to digest food more efficiently as well. This will lead to an improvement in the individual's health which may, over time, lead to improved chances of recovery.
As opposed to diagnostic paracentesis which is used to collect fluid for analysis, therapeutic paracentesis is used just to provide relief to the individual. This is particularly true in cases where the underlying condition affecting the patient may already be known through prior diagnosis or through the presence of other telltale symptoms.
The therapeutic paracentesis procedure begins after the patient has voided his or her bladder and bowel. The therapeutic paracentesis technique involves the selection of an appropriate area where the needle will be inserted. Once such an area is selected, it will be used to insert the needle and begin the procedure. The therapeutic paracentesis technique is fairly delicate as the doctor will actually be releasing pressure from within the body of the patient. Therefore, the drain procedure may be done extremely slowly to ensure that there is no sudden shock experienced by the organs of the body within the cavity. This can lead to catastrophic side effects.
Therapeutic paracentesis is something that needs to be performed in order to reduce the burden and strain on the body of the patient. Once this procedure is complete, the patient may be able to undergo other forms of treatment which can prevent the buildup of more fluid in the cavity.