• Pei-Shan Wu, Kuei-Chuan Lee, Chih-Yu Li, Yun-Cheng Hsieh, Teh-Ia Huo, Han-Chieh Lin, and Ming-Chih Hou.
• Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Endoscopy Center for Diagnosis and Treatment, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
• J Formos Med Assoc. 2025 Jan 7.

BackgroundCirrhotic patients with refractory ascites exhibit severe portal hypertension and hemodynamic disturbances. The risks associated modest-volume paracentesis (<5 L) for refractory ascites remains unclear. We aimed to explore the impact of modest-volume paracentesis in refractory ascites.MethodsCirrhotic patients with refractory ascites undergoing paracentesis <5 L with albumin infusion were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the volume of paracentesis: ≥3 L and <3 L. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors for post-paracentesis complications, while Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess 28-day survival rates.ResultsAmong 116 patients, 40 (34.5%) experienced post-paracentesis complications within one week, predominantly acute kidney injury (AKI) (19.8%). Twenty patients had paracentesis ≥3 L and 96 patients had <3 L. Overall complications were comparable between two groups (50% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.109), but ≥3 L group had more AKI (40% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.013). Additionally, paracentesis ≥3 L is an independent risk factor for AKI [Odds ratio (OR) = 4.15, p = 0.012], while higher MELD scores (OR = 1.14, p = 0.001) and older age (OR = 1.03, p = 0.047) are risk factors for overall complications. Furthermore, patients with post-paracentesis complications had significantly poorer 28-day survival.ConclusionCirrhotic patients with refractory ascites face a high risk of complications from modest-volume paracentesis, even with albumin infusion. Paracentesis ≥3 L increases AKI risks, while higher MELD scores are linked to greater overall complications, leading to poor short-term survival.Copyright © 2025 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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