Paracentesis Research Articles

Bedside ultrasonography prior to abdominal paracentesis is associated with low complication and high success rate: Experience in a National Health Service District General Hospital in the United Kingdom from 2013 to 2019.

To analyse data from a bedside ultrasound-assisted ascites procedure service in a National Health Service District General Hospital and compare them to results of studies in the medical literature. A retrospective review of audit data collected (January 2013 to December 2019) of the practice of paracentesis in a National Health Service District General hospital. All adult patients referred to the ascites assessment service were included. Bedside ultrasound detected location and volume of ascites, if present. Abdominal wall diameters were determined in order to select the appropriate needle length for procedures. Results and scan images were recorded on a pro-forma. Patients who underwent a procedure were followed up for 7 days, with complications documented. Seven hundred and two scans were performed on 282 patients - 127 (45%) male and 155 (55%) female. In 127 (18%) patients, an intervention was avoided. Five hundred forty-five (78%) patients underwent a procedure: 82 (15%) were diagnostic aspirations and 463 (85%) were therapeutic (large volume) paracentesis. Most scans were performed between 08:00-17:00. Average time from patient assessment to diagnostic aspiration was 4 hours 21 minutes. Complications included three failed procedures (0.6%) and one iatrogenic peritonitis (0.2%), but no bowel perforation, no major haemorrhage or death. It is possible to introduce a bedside ultrasound-assisted ascites procedure service to a National Health Service District General Hospital with a high success and low complication rate.

Abstract No. 373 Procedural characteristics and the risk of hemorrhagic complication following abdominal paracentesis: a case-control study

Abstract No. 373 Procedural characteristics and the risk of hemorrhagic complication following abdominal paracentesis: a case-control study

Validation of a Part-Task Trainer to Facilitate the Fifth-Year Medical Student in Practice of Abdominal Paracentesis and Improving Skill Retention after Hands-On Structured Workshop Setting

Objective: To validate an internally developed part-task trainer for training abdominal paracentesis (AP) to fifth-year medical students (MS), and to evaluate participant confidence level and perceived benefit compared between before and after a hands-on AP workshop among MS. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Siriraj Hospital between February 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. The model was designed to closely simulate the important characteristics of the abdomen so that trainees could learn and practice shifting dullness examination and AP. The target of evaluation was that 80% of participants would rate the model as good to very good. MS completed both the pre- and poststructured abdominal AP self-evaluation with 0 to 10 for each item. Results: The model was validated by 15 residents and 41 MS. Almost all participants rated the model as good to very good for ‘simulated human abdomen’ and ‘ability to perform the process’, with a range of 85.7% to 100%. Among the 177 MS evaluations, both pre- and post-workshop, the median confidence in ‘performing the procedure’ was significantly increased from pre-workshop (5.0) to post-workshop (8.0) (p<0.001). The inexperienced group improved their level of confidence significantly more than the experienced group (p<0.001). Competency examination revealed that 99.2% of assessed MS had skill retention. Conclusion: The evaluated model was shown to be a valid tool for teaching and practicing AP. A hands-on structured workshop using this model is effective for improving MS performance in AP. Keywords: Abdominal model; Abdominal paracentesis; Part-task trainer; Abdominal paracentesis workshop

Analysis of the Clinical Characteristics of Spontaneous Bile Duct Perforation in Children.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of spontaneous bile duct perforation (SBDP) in children.MethodsThe clinical data of children with SBDP who were admitted to Wuhan Children's Hospital between January 2014 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsIn all, 28 cases of children with SBDP (male, 28.6%; female, 71.4%; male-to-female ratio, 1:2.5; average age, 2.15 years) were analyzed. The most common symptoms were fever (85.7%), nausea and vomiting (78.6%), and abdominal distension (67.9%). Among the 28 patients, 26 (92.9%) had elevated hypersensitive C-reactive protein, 24 (85.7%) had an increased neutrophil percentage, and 22 (78.6%) had raised peripheral blood leukocyte counts. Moreover, 19 patients (67.9%) showed increased serum total bilirubin levels, and 5 (17.9%) showed an elevated conjugated bilirubin level. Abdominal CT examination revealed that the gallbladder wall of patients was thickened with edema, accompanied by gallbladder stenosis and gallbladder mucosa enhancement; furthermore, ascites was found in the abdominal cavity and lesser omental bursa. Twenty-two patients underwent abdominal paracentesis, and 20 (90.9%) of them were exposed to bile-based ascites. Among the 28 patients, four recovered with conservative treatment, whereas the others (85.7%) were surgically treated. Of the twenty-four patients undergoing surgery, the perforation site was found at the union of the hepatic and cystic ducts in 12 patients (50%), no perforation site was observed in 9 patients (37.5%), and a common hepatic duct was observed in 3 patients (12.5%). All 24 patients underwent stage I surgery, and temporary biliary drainage was performed because of severe abdominal inflammation. Cholangiography and enhanced CT revealed an abnormal location of the pancreatic duct joining the bile duct in 64.3% patients. Following surgery, 15 patients underwent hepaticojejunostomy. Subsequently, 3-month to 6-year follow-up (median, 30 months) indicated that the patients recovered well with no serious complications.ConclusionSBDP in children may be associated with pancreaticobiliary malunion (PBM) and congenital weakness of the bile duct wall. However, the clinical manifestations of this condition lack specificity; this limitation can be assisted through diagnosis via abdominal CT and by performing abdominal paracentesis. Once SBDP diagnosis is confirmed, the patient should follow the principles of individualized treatment.

Early endoscopic transpapillary drainage through the minor papilla in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

To explore the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary drainage through the minor papilla in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP). We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary drainage via the minor papilla among AP patients who were treated in our hospital from September 2018 to March 2020. The present study included 18 patients (12 males and 6 females). All patients successfully received endoscopic transpapillary drainage via the minor papilla and were discharged upon recovery. No patient died, received ICU treatment, or had endoscopic operation-related complications. Two patients (11.11%) received additional abdominal paracentesis due to local complications. Fifteen patients (83.33%) resumed oral feeding within 3 days. The postoperative 24-hour leukocyte level, APACHE II score, serum amylase level, and lipase level significantly decreased compared with those at admission. The median hospitalization stay was 5 (3.75-9) days. The median hospitalization cost was 25,123.82 (22,942.50-43,874.68) RMB. The patients were followed up at 6-24 months, during which 4 patients (22.22%) had recurrence. Two patients had recurrence after pancreatic duct removal and other 2 patients in the period of carrying ducts. Early endoscopic transpapillary drainage via the minor papilla in cases of difficult cannulation or stenting via the major papilla is safe and effective in the treatment of AP, and is worthy of further popularization.

Pregnancy outcomes in patients with late-onset severe OHSS following different methods of ascetic fluid drainage and a comparison with non-OHSS IVF patients.

In this study, we aimed to identify whether there are any differences in pregnancy outcomes in patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) following the drainage of ascites by central venous catheter or paracentesis. We also aimed to identify differences in pregnancy outcomes between severe OHSS patients and non-OHSS IVF patients. This was a retrospective cohort analysis carried out in a university-affiliated reproductive center between 2012 and 2019 featuring 359 women with severe OHSS following ascites draining and 345 non-OHSS women (matched by age and the number of oocytes retrieved). We investigated the rates of clinical pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, miscarriage, live birth, and preterm delivery, between the two groups. Within the OHSS group (central venous catheter group vs paracentesis group), we also analyzed the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of clinical pregnancy. The rate of biochemical pregnancy loss in non-OHSS patients was significantly higher than that of severe OHSS patients (11.1% vs. 0.6%; P < 0.05). Live birth rate and the rate of multiple pregnancy (twin pregnancy) were much higher in the severe OHSS group than in the non-OHSS group (88.9% vs. 73.5%; 57.6% vs. 28.1%, respectively). There was no significant difference between the rate of singleton and twin preterm delivery, and neonatal birth weight between the OHSS and the non-OHSS groups. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that multiple pregnancy and the long superovulation protocol had high odds ratios (odds ratio (OR) = 2.53), thus suggesting that these are significant risk factors for severe OHSS. When considering the patients with severe OHSS and the manner in which they underwent ascites drainage, we found that the volume of ascites in the central venous catheter group was significantly higher than that in the abdominal paracentesis group (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference between the two groups with regards to the number of live births and the birth weight of singletons and twins (P>0.05), although the premature birth rate of singletons in abdominal paracentesis group was 9.3% (10/107), compared with 3.75% in the central venous catheter group (P < 0.05). Analysis indicated that for women undergoing in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET), a higher number of antral follicle count, COS long protocol, and multiple pregnancy may be risk factors for late-onset OHSS. Both paracentesis and central venous catheters are effective modalities for the management of ascites in patients with severe OHSS. Catheters represent a safe and effective way to treat patients who need to undergo repeated paracentesis.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PARACENTESIS, DIAGNOSTIC PERITONEAL LAVAGE, AND ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS OF BLUNT INJURY ABDOMEN – A STUDY FROM CENTRAL INDIA

Introduction: Blunt abdominal trauma comprises 1–1.5% of total admissions for trauma. In India every year more than a lakh persons die due to accidents. It is in fact the automobiles traveling at a greater speed than ever before that account for an amazing frequency of admissions in civilian hospitals. These injuries present a challenge to the most astute diagnostician, mainly because of the many organs involved, complexity of the hidden and vital structures involved and also because other frequently overshadow the early symptoms associated injuries to the head and chest. The figure is increasing every year, for example, from 1965 to 1966 and an increase by 8.4% was recorded. Methods: The present study consists of 70 cases of blunt abdominal trauma treated in surgical indoors of Hamidia Hospital and associated Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal within the period of 3 years. Abdominal paracentesis was done in all cases and diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) done in those cases, where paracentesis was negative or doubtful. Ultrasonography was also done in almost all the cases admitted. Results: In our study, the accuracy and sensitivity of DPL marginally exceeds that of ultrasonography and accuracy and sensitivity of paracentesis is relatively less. Conclusion: Our study establishes that safety and accuracy of peritoneal tapping as a diagnostic aid in acute abdomen. It is particularly useful in several centers, where radiological facilities do not exist. Comparing all the above diagnostic tools, ultrasonography and DPL were considered are the most accurate, sensitive, and specific diagnostic modalities in cases of blunt injury abdomen.

Vernix caseosa peritonitis following vaginal delivery

The incidence of the acute abdomen during early postpartum is not uncommon. In this report, we highlight an extremely rare cause of acute abdomen which posed significant diagnostic and management dilemmas. In this case, the patient presented at day 5 postvaginal delivery with progressive respiratory embarrassment, mild abdominal pain, and fever. Her clinical signs, blood and laboratory parameters, and imaging (ultrasound and computed tomography scan) were however nonspecific except for worsening ascites. Laparotomy was determined as the best procedure for her in view of her polymorphonuclear cell count from an abdominal paracentesis being very high and the absence of clinical improvement even with the best intensive care support. Vernix caseosa peritonitis (VCP) was finally diagnosed based on histological examination of the “cheesy” slough extracted intraoperatively. Our case illustrates the nonspecific features of VCP which may be potentially fatal if undiagnosed early and no definitive care is provided.

Necrotizing enterocolitis as a side effect of octreotide in a preterm neonate, a case report

Congenital chylous ascites (CCA) is a rare disease, characterized by accumulation of chyle in the peritoneal cavity in infants <3 months. Respiratory distress and abdominal distension at birth are common presentations of CCA. Treatment of CCA includes abdominal paracentesis, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) formula, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and administration of octreotide. Surgical treatment is considered in case of conservative treatment failure. Octreotide administration leads to a reduction in the flow of chyle and predisposes high-risk infants to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We present a case of CCA in a preterm neonate that developed necrotizing NEC, 2 days after initiation of intravenous octreotide. Despite the immediate cessation of octreotide and surgical and supportive treatment, the infant was expired so we suspect that octreotide was a risk factor for the development of NEC in our patient and this report aims to warn this association and suggest that if octreotide is used in treatment, the patient must be under close monitoring for any signs of NEC.

A case report of refractory congenital chylous ascites in infant – surgical treatment with Fibrin glue

Congenital chylous ascites is a rare disease that results from abnormal development of the intra-abdominal lymphatic system. No gold standard treatment has been described so far, however, a combination of medium–chain triglyceride based diet or total parenteral nutrition along with octreotide and abdominal paracentesis is considered as a conservative management. This treatment is often a challenge to physicians since chylous ascites is often refractory and result in malnutrition and immune deficiency because of the loss of proteins and lymphocytes. We report a four-month old boy with congenital chylous ascites who was refractory to medical treatment with prolonged bowel rest, total parenteral nutrition, octreotide and repeated paracentesis. The baby well responded to surgical treatment with application of fibrin glue on the surface area of the leak site and was discharged after 2 month of hospitalization. When following up the patient had no recurrence of the ascites and he was growing up normally.

In-hospital mortality of hepatorenal syndrome in the United States: Nationwide inpatient sample.

BACKGROUNDHepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a life-threatening condition among patients with advanced liver disease. Data trends specific to hospital mortality and hospital admission resource utilization for HRS remain limited.AIMTo assess the temporal trend in mortality and identify the predictors for mortality among hospital admissions for HRS in the United States. METHODSWe used the National Inpatient Sample database to identify an unweighted sample of 4938 hospital admissions for HRS from 2005 to 2014 (weighted sample of 23973 admissions). The primary outcomes were temporal trends in mortality as well as predictors for hospital mortality. We estimated odds ratios from multi-level mixed effect logistic regression to identify patient characteristics and treatments associated with hospital mortality.RESULTSOverall hospital mortality was 32%. Hospital mortality decreased from 44% in 2005 to 24% in 2014 (P < 0.001), while there was an increase in the rate of liver transplantation (P = 0.02), renal replacement therapy (P < 0.001), length of hospital stay (P < 0.001), and hospitalization cost (P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, older age, alcohol use, coagulopathy, neurological disorder, and need for mechanical ventilation predicted higher hospital mortality, whereas liver transplantation, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and abdominal paracentesis were associated with lower hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONAlthough there was an increase in resource utilizations, hospital mortality among patients admitted for HRS significantly improved. Several predictors for hospital mortality were identified.

Preventing Bleeding Complications Of Paracentesis Using Point-Of-Care Ultrasound: An n-of-1 Case Study

Abdominal paracentesis is a common bedside procedure, and the advent of point-of-care ultrasound has provided an opportunity to reduce the associated risks. Multiple society guidelines now recommend both site and vascular marking to avoid potential complications. This case illustrates the importance of vascular marking specifically to avoid damage to adjacent blood vessels.

Combined effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous abdominal paracentesis drainage and ulinastatin on severe acute pancreatitis

Purpose: To study the clinical effect of a combination of ultrasound-guided percutaneous abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) and ulinastatin on severe acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods: A total of 94 patients with severe AP in Intensive Care Unit, Jiaozhou Central Hospital, Qingdao, from December 2017 to December 2018 were selected as the research subjects. They were divided into control and study groups, with 47 patients in each group. Patients in the control group underwent laparotomy drainage, while patients in the study group underwent ultrasound-guidedpercutaneous APD. Patients in both groups received ulinastatin perfusion. Subsequently, clinical effectsand other relevant indicators were determined.Results: Overall response was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). The times taken for disappearance of postoperative symptoms, normalization of serum amylase level, and hospitalization were significantly shorter in the study group than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). For every indicator, the study group exhibited more benefits after than before treatment; however, post-treatment levels of blood glucose, hemodiastase and urinary amylase were better than those in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). Incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the study group than in control group (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: The combination of ultrasound-guided percutaneous APD with ulinastatin produces marked beneficial effects on severe AP patients. It facilitates the remission of adverse symptoms, and enhances normalization of indicator levels. Moreover, it displays low incidence of complications, better prognosis and recovery, and absence of post-operation infections.

Subcutaneous edema as rare complication of abdominal paracentesis.

Although ascites leakage to the skin is the most frequent complication after abdominal paracentesis, leakage to the subcutaneous space has not been reported. Here, we report a subcutaneous effusion after paracentesis suggesting ascites leakage. We should be aware of this rare complication due to the potential risk of dissemination.

52-Year-Old Woman With Palpitations, Abdominal Distension, and Severe Abdominal Pain

52-Year-Old Woman With Palpitations, Abdominal Distension, and Severe Abdominal Pain

Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) from peritoneal lesions: a prospective cohort pilot study

BackgroundDiagnostic laparoscopy is often a necessary, albeit invasive, procedure to help resolve undiagnosed peritoneal diseases. Previous retrospective studies reported that EUS-FNA is feasible on peritoneal and omental lesions, however, EUS-FNA provided a limited amount of tissue for immunohistochemistry stain (IHC).AimThis pilot study aims to prospectively determine the effectiveness of EUS-FNB regarding adequacy of tissue for IHC staining, diagnostic rate and the avoidance rate of diagnostic laparoscopy or percutaneous biopsy in patients with these lesions.MethodsFrom March 2017 to June 2018, patients with peritoneal or omental lesions identified by CT or MRI at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand were prospectively enrolled in the study. All Patients underwent EUS-FNB. For those with negative pathological results of EUS-FNB, percutaneous biopsy or diagnostic laparoscopy was planned. Analysis uses percentages only due to small sample sizes.ResultsA total of 30 EUS-FNB passes were completed, with a median of 3 passes (range 2–3 passes) per case. For EUS-FNB, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of EUS-FNB from peritoneal lesions were 63.6%, 100%, 100%, 20% and 66.7% respectively. Adequate tissue for IHC stain was found in 25/30 passes (80%). The tissues from EUS results were found malignant in 7/12 patients (58.3%). IHC could be done in 10/12 patients (83.3%). Among the five patients with negative EUS results, two underwent either liver biopsy of mass or abdominal paracentesis, showing gallbladder cancer and adenocarcinoma. Two patients refused laparoscopy due to advanced pancreatic cancer and worsening ovarian cancer. The fifth patient had post-surgical inflammation only with spontaneous resolution. The avoidance rate of laparoscopic diagnosis was 58.3%. No major adverse event was observed.ConclusionsEUS-FNB from peritoneal lesions provided sufficient core tissue for diagnosis and IHC. Diagnostic laparoscopy can often be avoided in patients with peritoneal lesions.

Predictors of Short-Term Mortality Following First Episode of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Hospitalized Cirrhotic Patients.

Background and aimsSpontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. This study aimed to identify the factors impacting morbidity and short-term mortality in a cohort of patients with cirrhosis following an index episode of SBP.MethodsIn a retrospective study of hospitalized cirrhotic cohort, 333 patient records were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory, as well as radiological characteristics of the patient population were analyzed on day 1 of admission. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was based on the combination of laboratory, clinical, and radiological features. The diagnosis of SBP was established by abdominal paracentesis in the presence of cellular, biochemical, and microbiological features consistent with SBP. All independent variables were analyzed to generate a predictive model of mortality by using the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis (adjusted for age and gender).ResultsA total of 61 cirrhotic patients with ascites and a first episode of SBP were identified. The overall mortality among hospitalized patients was 19.7% and was associated with longer length of stay (12.6 vs. 7.6 days; p=0.01). Patient cohorts with multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria as a cause of SBP had a significantly higher mortality compared to those with other bacterial phenotypes (p=0.03). Multivariate analyses showed that a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (hazard ratio [HR]=1.29; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.92; p=0.023), Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (HR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.82; p=0.027), and acute kidney injury (HR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.41 to 3.47; p=0.01) were the predictors of mortality from SBP.ConclusionSBP predicts in-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients. In addition to multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria, thresholds of both hepatic and renal injury independently predict adverse outcomes.

Congenital chylous as cites in a 3-month-old infant in Zaria: A case report

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Congenital chylous ascites (CCA) is a rare disease that results from the maldevelopment of the intra-abdominal lymphatic system. Due to the rarity of congenital chylous ascites and the lack of standards in diagnosis and therapy, this disease constitutes a medical challenge and individual therapy seems to be extremely important. A 3-month-old girl diagnosed with congenital chylous ascites. She was managed initially with nil per oral, parenteral nutrition, medium chain triglyceride (MCT) containing oil and abdominal paracentesis, followed by octreotide. Medium chain triglyceride formula, the main stay of management was discontinued with gradual reintroduction of breast feeds. This case was selected due to the rarity of CCA and the lack of standards in the diagnosis and therapy.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Regular at-home abdominal paracentesis via Tenckhoff catheter in patients with refractory congestive heart failure.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is increasingly used for the long-term management of refractory congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients with severe CHF and ascites were treated with regular at-home abdominal paracentesis via Tenckhoff catheter. We investigated the outcome of those patients, aiming to identify potential prognostic factors for longer survival. Patients with refractory CHF referred by cardiologists to the PD unit from years 2009 to 2019 and treated with regular at-home abdominal paracentesis via Tenckhoff catheter without peritoneal exchanges, were enrolled into this prospective observational study. From the total of 69 refractory CHF patients treated with PD, 18 (26%) were managed with regular at-home abdominal paracentesis via Tenckhoff catheter and improved without the need for peritoneal exchanges for fluid removal (no peripheral oedema or pulmonary congestion) or for solutes removal. Median survival of severe CHF patients treated with abdominal paracentesis was 13.5months (0-34months). Long-term survivors demonstrated significant improvement in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, improvement in kidney function and decrease in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) compared with their baseline status. A subgroup of patients with shorter survival were more likely to have evidence of liver cirrhosis and significantly lower serum sodium compared with patients with longer survival. Refractory CHF patients with massive ascites could be successfully treated with regular at-home abdominal paracentesis via Tenckhoff catheter. This treatment provides a useful alternative to periodical percutaneous paracentesis on as-needed basis.

Safety and feasibility of a nurse-led ambulatory abdominal paracentesis service.

63 Background: Ascites is a common complication of cancer. Symptomatic ascites contributes to cancer-related morbidity and is distressing for patients (pts). Therapeutic abdominal paracentesis (TAP) provides symptom relief but requires specialized procedural knowledge and is usually performed in the inpatient setting with several days of hospitalization. Additionally, high hospital bed occupancy during the COVID-19 pandemic prevented timely admission for TAP. An Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)-led ambulatory TAP service was introduced at our center, with the aim of improving access to TAP and reducing hospital bed occupancy. Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed workflows and safety guidelines for TAP to enable right-siting of pts in a cancer day care unit. Pts were scheduled for radiologically guided insertion of abdominal drains in the morning before 10am to allow adequate time for drainage. Pre-procedure clinical examination and safety checks were performed by APNs in the day unit. Following the procedure, abdominal fluid was drained with concurrent administration of 20% IV albumin. Drains were removed by the APN and pts were examined before discharge on the same day. Data for all cancer pts requiring TAP in the day unit and hospital from 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2020 were extracted from the electronic medical record system. The primary outcome was length-of-stay (LOS). The primary safety outcome was adverse events in the day unit. Continuous data were compared using the t-test. Data analysis was done in SPSS version 22. Results: The number of TAPs performed in the day unit and general ward requiring hospitalization were 102 and 133, respectively. There was a significant reduction in average LOS with TAPs performed in the day unit vs. hospitalization (1.48 vs. 5.82 days, p&lt;0.001) (Table). The mean difference was 4.34 (95% confidence interval 3.33 - 5.34) days saved per pt, or a saving of 443 inpatient bed days. The TAP day unit service encountered 10 adverse events (AEs) requiring admission to the ward for continued drainage. AEs were borderline baseline blood pressure, pt frailty and inability to care for an indwelling catheter. There were no infective or bleeding complications. The majority of TAPs (86.8%) were performed in one day, with the remainder over 2-days with the abdominal drain left in-situ and reattendance at the day unit the next day for further drainage. Differences in average length-of-stay with TAP in the hospital vs. day unit. Conclusions: An APN-led ambulatory abdominal paracentesis service is a safe alternative to inpatient paracentesis. Optimal utilization of a day unit enabled reduced LOS for pts with advanced cancer. This reduction in LOS was critical during a pandemic where bed demand was high. This was possible from advanced scheduling and control over the day unit capacity.[Table: see text]