• K Schlottmann, C Gelbmann, S Grüne, G Lock, and J Schölmerich.
• Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg. klaus.schlottmann@klinik.uni-r.de
• Med Klin. 2001 Jun 15; 96 (6): 321-4.

BackgroundDiagnostic or therapeutic paracentesis of ascites or pleural effusions is part of the daily routine on many hospital wards and in outpatient clinics. In Germany, paracentesis is usually performed with angiocaths. However, the therapeutic large volume paracentesis of ascites and paracentesis of pleural effusions with angiocaths is often cumbersome and quite often paracentesis fails, forcing the physician to repuncture. This is mainly due to the fact that angiocaths are not designed for such interventions.Patients And Method45 patients with ascites or pleural effusions were treated with a new needle specially designed for paracentesis, or with an angiocath. The new paracentesis needle was compared with the angiocath needle under the following aspects: necessity and number of positional corrections of the needle, necessity of and reasons for repuncture, duration of puncture, flow capacity, subjective practicability of paracentesis and patient acceptance of the paracentesis needle.ResultsThe paracentesis needle was superior to the angiocath in all investigated respects. Significantly, the paracentesis needle had a much higher success rate in the complete drainage than had the angiocath.ConclusionThe paracentesis needle was objectively superior as compared to the angiocath. It might help to avoid additional complications due to repuncture and it will increase the patients' comfort.

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