Tunnelled peritoneal drainage catheter insertion for refractory ascites in cirrhosis
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Description
Long-term liver scarring (cirrhosis) can cause fluid to build up (ascites) in the abdomen, causing difficulty in breathing, nausea, bloating, acid reflux, abdominal pain, poor appetite and infection. The fluid can be drained in hospital (peritoneal drainage) with a temporary drainage tube (catheter) to help relieve the symptoms but the fluid recurs (refractory). So drainage needs to be repeated every 1 to 2 weeks. This may cause pain and infection.
In this procedure, with a local anaesthetic (or occasionally under sedation or a general anaesthetic) a catheter is inserted (tunnelled) under the skin into the abdomen. Excess fluid can then be drained when needed, at home or in community care into a bottle or a bag. In between times, the catheter is capped and covered with a clean dressing. The aim is to reduce the need for hospital admissions and improve quality of life.
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