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Paracentesis

Paracentesis is a procedure used to remove fluid from the abdomen. As part of the GastroDoxs GutDefense Pathway™, this page helps patients understand how paracentesis may test abdominal fluid, relieve pressure from ascites, and guide care for liver disease, infection concerns, or other causes of fluid buildup.

Dr. Bharat Pothuri Medically Reviewed by Dr. Bharat Pothuri, MD, FACG  |  Updated 06-01-2026
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Ascites Fluid testing Ultrasound guidance Board-Certified Gastroenterologist

What Is Paracentesis?

Paracentesis is a procedure that removes fluid from the abdominal cavity. This fluid buildup is called ascites and may occur with liver disease, infection, inflammation, cancer-related conditions, heart failure, kidney disease, or other medical concerns.

The procedure may be used for diagnostic testing, symptom relief, or both. Your care team may send fluid to the lab to check for infection, protein levels, blood cells, or other findings.

Ascites means extra fluid has collected in the abdomen. Paracentesis helps your doctor understand why the fluid is present and may also reduce abdominal pressure when fluid buildup is uncomfortable.

Understanding Ascites

Ascites means extra fluid has collected in the abdomen. Paracentesis helps your doctor understand why the fluid is present and may also reduce abdominal pressure when fluid buildup is uncomfortable.

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Why Is Paracentesis Done?

Paracentesis may be recommended when abdominal fluid needs to be tested, drained, or monitored as part of a broader digestive and liver care plan. Paracentesis can remove abdominal fluid so it can be examined or drained for symptom relief.

Ascites

Paracentesis may be done when fluid builds up in the abdomen due to ascites, often related to liver disease, cancer, infection, or other medical conditions.

Abdominal fluid

The procedure removes abdominal fluid so your care team can evaluate the amount, appearance, and possible cause of the fluid buildup.

Liver disease

Patients with cirrhosis or other liver conditions may need paracentesis when ascites develops, worsens, or requires fluid testing or symptom relief.

Fluid testing

Fluid removed during paracentesis may be sent to a lab to check for infection, inflammation, cancer cells, protein levels, or other diagnostic clues.

Infection concern

Paracentesis may be recommended when infection in the abdominal fluid is suspected, especially if symptoms include fever, pain, confusion, or worsening ascites.

Abdominal pressure

When ascites causes bloating, tightness, discomfort, shortness of breath, or reduced appetite, paracentesis may help relieve pressure by draining excess fluid.

How Gastroenterologists Decide on Paracentesis

The decision to recommend Paracentesis is based on symptoms, medical history, exam findings, lab results, imaging, prior testing, medication response, and the goal of the evaluation. This helps ensure the procedure or test is clinically appropriate and connected to a clear next step.

What Can Paracentesis Help Evaluate?

Paracentesis can help evaluate abdominal fluid to better understand why fluid is building up, whether infection or inflammation is present, and what follow-up care may be needed.

Ascites

Paracentesis helps evaluate ascites by removing fluid from the abdomen and allowing your care team to review the possible cause and severity of fluid buildup.

Abdominal fluid

The removed fluid can be examined for appearance, volume, protein levels, cell counts, and other findings that may help guide diagnosis and treatment planning.

Liver disease

In patients with cirrhosis or other liver conditions, paracentesis can help assess complications related to fluid buildup and guide next-step liver care.

Fluid testing

Fluid testing may check for infection, inflammation, cancer cells, abnormal protein levels, or other clues that explain why ascites developed.

Infection concern

Paracentesis can help evaluate for infection in abdominal fluid, especially when symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, confusion, or worsening ascites are present.

Abdominal pressure

When fluid causes abdominal tightness, bloating, discomfort, or breathing difficulty, paracentesis can help assess whether drainage may relieve pressure.

How Results Are Interpreted

Results from Paracentesis are reviewed in context with your symptoms, risk factors, prior testing, and clinical history. Your gastroenterologist explains whether results suggest monitoring, treatment, additional testing, or follow-up care.

Paracentesis Alternatives and Related Testing

Paracentesis may be one part of a broader digestive health evaluation. Depending on the concern, alternatives or related tests may include blood work, stool testing, imaging, endoscopy, ultrasound-based testing, or follow-up monitoring. Your gastroenterologist helps choose the most appropriate option.

Who May Need Paracentesis?

Your doctor may recommend paracentesis based on symptoms, risk factors, prior test results, abdominal fluid buildup, liver disease history, or the need to test fluid for infection or other causes.

Patients with ascites

Patients with fluid buildup in the abdomen may need paracentesis to evaluate the cause of ascites, monitor changes, or drain fluid when symptoms become uncomfortable.

Patients with abdominal fluid

Patients with newly found or worsening abdominal fluid on exam or imaging may need paracentesis to help determine why the fluid is present.

Patients with liver disease

Patients with cirrhosis or other liver conditions may need paracentesis when ascites develops, increases, causes symptoms, or requires fluid testing.

Patients needing fluid testing

Patients may need paracentesis when abdominal fluid must be tested for infection, inflammation, cancer cells, protein levels, or other diagnostic findings.

Patients with infection concern

Patients with fever, abdominal pain, confusion, worsening ascites, or abnormal lab results may need paracentesis to check for infection in the abdominal fluid.

Patients with abdominal pressure

Patients with abdominal tightness, bloating, discomfort, shortness of breath, or reduced appetite from fluid buildup may need paracentesis for symptom relief.

Is Paracentesis Only for Liver Disease?

No. Ascites is commonly linked with liver disease, but abdominal fluid can also occur with infection, inflammation, cancer-related conditions, heart disease, kidney disease, or other causes. Testing helps clarify the reason. Talk to a specialist if you have abdominal swelling, tightness, new ascites, liver disease, abnormal imaging, abnormal liver tests, or symptoms such as fever, pain, confusion, or worsening bloating.

Patient Journey: Before Paracentesis, Most Patients Feel the Same Way

Many patients have questions before Paracentesis, including how to prepare and what results may mean.

Read the Patient Experience →

Benefits of Paracentesis

Paracentesis can provide useful information about digestive or liver health and may help your gastroenterologist plan the next step.

Helps evaluate ascites

Helps evaluate abdominal fluid

Helps evaluate liver disease

Helps evaluate fluid testing

Helps evaluate infection concern

Helps evaluate abdominal pressure

When Should You Talk to a GI Specialist?

No. Ascites is commonly linked with liver disease, but abdominal fluid can also occur with infection, inflammation, cancer-related conditions, heart disease, kidney disease, or other causes. Testing helps clarify the reason. Talk to a specialist if you have abdominal swelling, tightness, new ascites, liver disease, abnormal imaging, abnormal liver tests, or symptoms such as fever, pain, confusion, or worsening bloating.

When Should You Talk to a GI Specialist?

Talk to a gastroenterologist if symptoms persist, results are unclear, or your doctor recommends Paracentesis for diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment planning.

Related Paracentesis Guides

Use these next-step pages to understand paracentesis preparation, scheduling, ascites symptoms, liver-related fluid buildup, and follow-up testing. These guides can help you learn when abdominal fluid needs evaluation and what care may involve.

View what to expect

Learn what happens before, during, and after paracentesis, including preparation, ultrasound guidance, fluid removal, recovery, and aftercare instructions.

Learn about ascites

Ascites is fluid buildup in the abdomen and may be related to liver disease, infection, cancer, or other medical conditions that need evaluation.

Learn about liver disease

Liver disease can lead to fluid buildup, abnormal liver tests, fatigue, swelling, and other symptoms that may require structured GI evaluation.

Paracentesis Overview

Quick Answer: What should adults know about paracentesis?

Paracentesis is used to drain or test abdominal fluid. Your GastroDoxs care team can review why ascites is present, whether the procedure is appropriate, and what follow-up may be needed after fluid testing or drainage.

Paracentesis Video Instructions

Watch this overview, then follow the written instructions from your GastroDoxs care team for your exact preparation, medication guidance, arrival time, and follow-up plan.

Where to Learn the Next Step

Want procedure-day details?Review the full guide for preparation, procedure-day expectations, recovery, and how results are discussed. Learn more
Ready to discuss scheduling?If Paracentesis may be appropriate, use the scheduling page to understand appointment options. Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are reviewed for clinical accuracy based on standard gastroenterology practice guidelines.

What is paracentesis used for?

Paracentesis is used to remove fluid from the abdomen. It may be done to test the fluid, relieve pressure from ascites, or support diagnosis and treatment planning.

Why would abdominal fluid need testing?

Fluid testing can help check for infection, inflammation, blood cells, protein levels, or other findings that may explain why ascites developed.

Does ultrasound help with paracentesis?

Ultrasound can help locate abdominal fluid and support planning before the fluid is removed.

Can paracentesis relieve abdominal pressure?

Yes. Therapeutic paracentesis may remove a larger amount of fluid to reduce tightness, bloating, discomfort, or breathing pressure related to ascites.

When should I ask a GI doctor about paracentesis?

Ask a GI doctor if you have ascites, abdominal swelling, liver disease, abnormal imaging, worsening abdominal pressure, or symptoms such as fever, pain, or confusion.

Wondering If You Need Paracentesis?

If abdominal fluid buildup, ascites, liver disease, or abnormal imaging needs evaluation, a digestive health specialist can help determine whether paracentesis is the right next step.

Learn What to Expect See Scheduling Options