Timing of paracentesis and outcomes in hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis
Cristina Tocia, Andrei Dumitru, Luana Alexandrescu, R. Popescu, Eugen Dumitru
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ascites is one of the most common complications of cirrhosis, placing a significant burden on the healthcare system. Data regarding the optimal time of paracentesis and outcomes among patients with cirrhosis and ascites are scarce. AIM: To assess the outcomes of patients who underwent paracentesis within 12 h after admission compared to patients who underwent paracentesis later than 12 h. METHODS: The study included 185 patients with cirrhosis and ascites who underwent paracentesis. The early paracentesis group was defined as paracentesis performed < 12 h after admission (65 patients) and the delayed paracentesis group was defined as paracentesis performed > 12 h after admission (120 patients). New-onset complications of cirrhosis, length of hospital stay, weekday or weekend admission, in-hospital mortality rate, and 90-d readmission rates were assessed and compared between the groups. RESULTS: 12.2 d) and in-hospital mortality was lower among patients in the early paracentesis group. Patients in the delayed paracentesis group had a higher risk of developing complications during hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Early paracentesis (within 12 h after admission) could be a new inpatient quality metric among patients hospitalized with cirrhosis and ascites as it is associated with fewer complications of cirrhosis, lower in-hospital mortality and shorter length of stay.