[Ascites drainage at home]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Ascites, or abdominal fluid buildup, is a common and distressing symptom in patients with advanced cancers like ovarian, pancreatic, colonic, and gastric.
• Current management often involves intermittent ascites drainage, which can be burdensome for patients requiring frequent procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a subcutaneously tunnelled permanent ascites catheter as a palliative measure for patients with malignant ascites.
• To assess the patient's ability to self-manage ascites drainage with the permanent catheter.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving the insertion of 35 subcutaneously tunnelled permanent ascites catheters in patients with end-stage malignancy and symptomatic ascites.
• The study was conducted at the Leiden University Medical Centre over a 3.5-year period.

Main Results:

• The permanent ascites catheter demonstrated a 100% success rate in managing malignant ascites.
• The complication rate associated with the procedure was low, at 2.9%.

Conclusions:

• Subcutaneously tunnelled permanent ascites catheters provide an effective and safe palliative treatment option for patients suffering from malignant ascites.
• This intervention empowers patients to independently manage their symptoms, potentially improving their quality of life and reducing healthcare utilization.