Background- Ascites is the most common complication of decompensated cirrhosis of liver requiring paracentesis for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose. Ascitic fluid leak can develop after paracentesis in patients with cirrhosis leading to significant morbidity if persistent. We aimed to study the incidence and predictors of post-paracentesis leak in patients with ascites. Methods- In this prospective study, patients with cirrhosis undergoing therapeutic paracentesis were followed up and those who developed persistent leak were include as cases.
Controls were randomly selected in a 2:1 ratio from the group of patients who did not develop leak. Clinical and laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups. Results- A total of 256 patients underwent 1126 session of therapeutic abdominal paracentesis over a period of 14 months. Post-paracentesis leak was seen in 55 (4.8%) patients…
