Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal region in the body and can present with symptoms of pain in the abdomen, excessive swelling or abdominal fluid buildup and weight loss. Excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity (the area between the tissues that line the abdomen and the organs in the abdomen) is known as ascites. If a patient presents with ascites and any of the other symptoms noted above, and they have a history of having worked with or around asbestos, their doctor may recommend that a diagnostic paracentesis be performed.
Certain medical conditions such as Cirrhosis lead to recurring fluid buildup. Once a certain amount of fluid builds in the abdominal cavity it can cause a great deal of patient discomfort and in some instances cause breathing difficulty. In these types of situations, a doctor may order an abdominal tap with the sole purpose of removing large volumes of fluid from the abdominal cavity in order to relieve pain and help the patient breathe easier.
The test area is first prepped by shaving, if necessary, and cleansing with antiseptic solution. A local anesthetic is then administered. Once the area is numb, the doctor will insert a fine needle into the abdominal area (sometimes with ultrasound guidance) and begin draining the fluid into a syringe. If a very large amount of fluid is present a catheter may be mounted to the syringe so that fluid can be collected in a vacuum bottle. When enough fluid is collected, the needle will be withdrawn and covered with a sterile bandage.
What is Paracentesis?
A paracentesis is a minimally invasive procedure, often performed with the assistance of a CT camera or ultrasound. The purpose of an abdominal paracentesis is to obtain a sample of the excess fluid in the abdominal cavity using a special needle. Once the fluid is extracted, the sample is sent to the lab for analysis so that a more comprehensive diagnosis of the patient’s condition can be made. If asbestos exposure is in the patient’s history, the doctor will be looking for malignant mesothelioma cells.Certain medical conditions such as Cirrhosis lead to recurring fluid buildup. Once a certain amount of fluid builds in the abdominal cavity it can cause a great deal of patient discomfort and in some instances cause breathing difficulty. In these types of situations, a doctor may order an abdominal tap with the sole purpose of removing large volumes of fluid from the abdominal cavity in order to relieve pain and help the patient breathe easier.
What to Expect if Your Doctor Orders a Paracentesis
A paracentesis is most commonly performed on an outpatient basis in a radiology clinic or hospital setting. The doctor will explain the procedure to you in detail and outline the risks and benefits. Some simple blood tests may also be performed to check the platelet count to be sure that there will not be any excessive bleeding as a result of the procedure.The test area is first prepped by shaving, if necessary, and cleansing with antiseptic solution. A local anesthetic is then administered. Once the area is numb, the doctor will insert a fine needle into the abdominal area (sometimes with ultrasound guidance) and begin draining the fluid into a syringe. If a very large amount of fluid is present a catheter may be mounted to the syringe so that fluid can be collected in a vacuum bottle. When enough fluid is collected, the needle will be withdrawn and covered with a sterile bandage.
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