Condition
Paracentesis
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.Published 30 April 20051 min read
Key points
- The abdomen usually contains a small amount of fluid.
- In certain conditions, fluid can accumulate in the abdomen.
- The abdominal tap is a procedure in which a needle is inserted through the abdominal wall into the peritoneal cavity to obtain a sample of any fluid that is present.
- The sample is then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Alternative names
Peritoneal tap; Abdominal tap - paracentesis
Definition
The abdomen usually contains a small amount of fluid. In certain conditions, fluid can accumulate in the abdomen. The abdominal tap is a procedure in which a needle is inserted through the abdominal wall into the peritoneal cavity to obtain a sample of any fluid that is present. The sample is then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
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