Palliative Paracentesis in the Home Setting: A Case Series

Background: Management of ascites-related symptoms in home hospice and palliative care patients can be challenging. Ultrasound-guided paracentesis is a standard intervention for this indication, but generally requires transfer to a hospital or outpatient interventional-radiology (IR) setting; thus,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of hospice & palliative medicine 2021-08, Vol.38 (8), p.1042-1045
Main Authors: Ota, Ken S., Schultz, Nicholas, Segaline, Nicole A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ascites - therapy
Hospice Care
Humans
Palliative Care
Paracentesis
Retrospective Studies
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Summary:Background: Management of ascites-related symptoms in home hospice and palliative care patients can be challenging. Ultrasound-guided paracentesis is a standard intervention for this indication, but generally requires transfer to a hospital or outpatient interventional-radiology (IR) setting; thus, such interventions are often not practical or attainable for home hospice and palliative care patients. Objective: To describe a mobile, in-home service that provides home-based palliative paracentesis (HBPP) as an interventional palliative option for patients with distressing symptoms related to ascites. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting/Subjects: Thirty patients with ascites, confirmed by portable bedside ultrasound, who underwent HBPP at their residence. Results: Thirty-three patients were referred for HBPP for symptomatic abdominal distention from March 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020. Thirty (91%) patients had ultrasound-confirmed ascites and received HBPP. All 30, verbalized appreciable symptom relief post-intervention. There were no reported post-procedural complications. Conclusion: Home-based palliative paracentesis is a safe, effective, and convenient intervention for hospice and palliative care patients with symptomatic ascites.
ISSN:1049-9091
1938-2715
DOI:10.1177/1049909120963075