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Paracentesis is associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with cirrhosis and ascites.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND & AIMS:Diagnostic paracentesis is recommended for patients with cirrhosis who are admitted to the hospital for ascites or encephalopathy. However, it is not known whether clinicians in the United States adhere to this recommendation; a relationship between paracentesis and clinical outcome has not been reported. We analyzed a U.S. database to determine the frequency of paracentesis and its association with mortality. METHODS:The 2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (which contains data from approximately 8 million hospital discharges each year) was used to identify patients with cirrhosis and ascites who were admitted with a primary diagnosis of ascites or encephalopathy. In-hospital mortality, length of stay, and hospital charges were compared for those who did and did not undergo paracentesis. Outcomes were compared for those who received an early paracentesis (within 1 day of admission) and those who received one later. RESULTS:Of 17,711 eligible admissions, only 61% underwent paracentesis. In-hospital mortality was reduced by 24% among patients who underwent paracentesis (6.5% vs 8.5%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.74). Most paracenteses (66%) occurred ?1 day after admission. In-hospital mortality was lower among patients who received early paracentesis than those who received it later (5.7% vs 8.1%, P = .049), although this difference was not significant after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-2.02). Among patients who underwent paracentesis, the mean hospital stay was 14% longer and hospital charges were 29% greater than for patients who did not receive the procedure. CONCLUSIONS:Paracentesis is underused for patients admitted to the hospital with ascites; the procedure is associated with increased short-term survival. These data support practice guidelines derived from expert opinion. Studies are needed to identify barriers to guideline adherence.

SUBMITTER: Orman ES

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3944409 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Paracentesis is associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with cirrhosis and ascites.

Orman Eric S ES Hayashi Paul H PH Bataller Ramon R Barritt A Sidney AS

Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association 20130824 3

<h4>Background & aims</h4>Diagnostic paracentesis is recommended for patients with cirrhosis who are admitted to the hospital for ascites or encephalopathy. However, it is not known whether clinicians in the United States adhere to this recommendation; a relationship between paracentesis and clinical outcome has not been reported. We analyzed a U.S. database to determine the frequency of paracentesis and its association with mortality.<h4>Methods</h4>The 2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (which c ...[more]

PMID: 23978348

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Project description:Background & aimsRefractory ascites is the main reason for the implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in liver cirrhosis, but ascites control by TIPS fails in a relevant proportion of cases. Here, we investigated whether routine parameters pre-TIPS can predict persistent ascites after TIPS implantation and whether persistent ascites predicts long-term clinical outcome.MethodsA detailed retrospective analysis of 128 patients receiving expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents for the treatment of refractory ascites was performed. Persistent ascites post-TIPS was defined as the prolonged need for paracentesis >3 months after TIPS. The influence of demographics, laboratory results, pre-TIPS heart and liver ultrasound results, and invasive hemodynamic parameters on persistent ascites was evaluated by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Predictors of the composite endpoint liver transplantation/death were analyzed using a multivariable Cox regression.ResultsAscites control post-TIPS was achieved in 95/128 patients (74%), whereas ascites remained persistent in 33/128 cases (26%). On multivariable analysis, a lower paracentesis frequency pre-TIPS (odds ratio 1.672; 95% CI 1.253-2.355) and lower baseline creatinine levels (odds ratio 2.640; CI 1.201-6.607) were associated with ascites control. Patients with persistent ascites post-TIPS had and impaired transplant-free survival (median 10.0 vs. 25.8 months), for which persistent ascites was the only independent predictor (hazard ratio 5.654; CI 3.019-10.59).ConclusionTIPS-placement in patients with lower paracentesis frequency and creatinine levels is associated with superior ascites control. Thus, TIPS implantation should be considered in moderate decompensation and not as a last resort. Persistent ascites post-TIPS seems to be the only predictor of liver transplantation and death.Lay summaryThe insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with refractory ascites should be considered in patients with moderate decompensation and not as a last resort, as lower paracentesis frequency and creatinine levels pre-TIPS are associated with superior ascites control. In turn, failure to control ascites seems to be the only predictor of liver transplantation and death.

Project description:Background & aimsAlthough ascites is the most frequent first decompensating event in cirrhosis, the clinical course after ascites as the single index decompensation is not well defined. The aim of this multicentre study was thus to systematically investigate the incidence and type of further decompensation after ascites as the first decompensating event and to assess risk factors for mortality.MethodsA total of 622 patients with cirrhosis presenting with grade 2/3 ascites as the single index decompensating event at 2 university hospitals (Padova and Vienna) between 2003 and 2021 were included. Events of further decompensation, liver transplantation, and death were recorded.ResultsThe mean age was 57 ± 11 years, and most patients were male (n = 423, 68%) with alcohol-related (n = 366, 59%) and viral (n = 200,32%) liver disease as the main aetiologies. In total, 323 (52%) patients presented with grade 2 and 299 (48%) with grade 3 ascites. The median Child-Pugh score at presentation was 8 (IQR 7-9), and the mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) was 15 ± 6. During a median follow-up period of 49 months, 350 (56%) patients experienced further decompensation: refractory ascites (n = 130, 21%), hepatic encephalopathy (n = 112, 18%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n = 32, 5%), hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (n = 29, 5%). Variceal bleeding as an isolated further decompensation event was rare (n = 18, 3%), whereas non-bleeding further decompensation (n = 161, 26%) and ≥2 concomitant further decompensation events (n = 171, 27%) were frequent. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was used in only 81 (13%) patients. In patients presenting with grade 2 ascites, MELD ≥15 indicated a considerable risk for further decompensation (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] 2.18; p <0.001; 1-year incidences: <10: 10% vs. 10-14: 13% vs. ≥15: 28%) and of mortality (SHR 1.89; p = 0.004; 1-year incidences: <10: 3% vs. 10-14: 6% vs. ≥15: 14%). Importantly, mortality was similarly high throughout MELD strata in grade 3 ascites (p = n.s. for different MELD strata; 1-year incidences: <10: 14% vs. 10-14: 15% vs. ≥15: 20%).ConclusionsFurther decompensation is frequent in patients with ascites as a single index decompensation event and only rarely owing to bleeding. Although patients with grade 2 ascites and MELD <15 seem to have a favourable prognosis, those with grade 3 ascites are at a high risk of mortality across all MELD strata.Lay summaryDecompensation (the development of symptoms as a result of worsening liver function) marks a turning point in the disease course for patients with cirrhosis. Ascites (i.e. , the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) is the most common first decompensating event, yet little is known about the clinical course of patients who develop ascites as a single first decompensating event. Herein, we show that the severity of ascites is associated with mortality and that in patients with moderate ascites, the widely used prognostic MELD score can predict patient outcomes.

Project description:Both cirrhosis and diabetes are established risk factors for infections. However, it remains uncertain whether diabetes adds to the risk of infections in patients with cirrhosis who are already at high risk of infections, or increases the mortality following an infection. To answer these questions, we followed a cohort of trial participants with cirrhosis and ascites for 1 year to compare the incidence of infections and post-infection mortality between those with or without diabetes.MethodsWe used Cox regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of any infection, adjusting for confounding by patient age, gender, MELD score, albumin, use of proton pump inhibitors and lactulose, cirrhosis aetiology, and severity of ascites. Further, we analysed the mortality after infection.ResultsAmong 1,198 patients with cirrhosis and ascites, diabetics (n = 289, 24%) were more likely than non-diabetics (n = 909, 76%) to be old and male, to have low platelets, and to use lactulose. At inclusion, similar proportions of diabetic and non-diabetic patients were taking a quinolone antibiotic (13% vs. 12%) and they had similar median MELD scores (14 vs. 15). During the follow-up, 446 patients had an infection. Diabetes did not increase the HR of infections (adjusted HR 1.08; 95% CI 0.87-1.35). Further, diabetes did not increase the mortality following an infection (adjusted HR 0.93; 95% CI 0.64-1.35).ConclusionsIn patients with cirrhosis and ascites, diabetes did not increase infection risk or mortality after infection. The immune incompetence of each disease did not appear to be additive. In clinical terms, this means that particular attention to infections is not indicated in patients with cirrhosis and diabetes.Lay summaryCirrhosis and diabetes are chronic diseases that weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infections, but it is unknown whether their combined effects exceed the effect of cirrhosis alone. We showed that the risk of infections was the same in patients with cirrhosis, ascites and diabetes as in patients with cirrhosis and ascites alone. Thus, their combined effects do not exceed the effect of cirrhosis alone.

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Paracentesis is associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with cirrhosis and ascites.

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Paracentesis is associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with cirrhosis and ascites.

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