Vascular Ultrasonography: A Novel Method to Reduce Paracentesis Related Major Bleeding.

Area of Science:

• Medical procedures
• Ultrasound applications
• Hospital medicine

Background:

• Paracentesis is a common hospitalist procedure.
• Ultrasound is standard for fluid localization using a low-frequency probe.
• A two-probe technique, including a high-frequency probe, is recommended but lacks evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the two-probe ultrasound technique on paracentesis-related bleeding.
• To compare bleeding complication rates before and after implementing the two-probe technique.

Main Methods:

• A pre- to postintervention study design was used.
• Data collected from February 2010 to February 2016.
• Procedures were divided into a low-frequency probe only group and a two-probe technique group.

Main Results:

• A total of 5777 paracentesis procedures were analyzed.
• Minor bleeding rates were similar between the groups.
• Major bleeding was lower in the two-probe technique group (0.08%) compared to the low-frequency probe group (0.3%).

Conclusions:

• The two-probe ultrasound technique shows a trend towards reducing major bleeding during paracentesis.
• Further research may confirm the clinical benefit of this technique in preventing bleeding complications.