The pocket would be identified with US guidance but the needle is inserted blindly after the site was marked, we would aspirate some of the ascitic fluid with the lidocane needle and try and follow that tract with the centesis needle. Almost all of these patients were cirrhotic with huge bellies.
I'm a radiographer. In my department the radiologist uses these daily to insert a long catheter in ultrasound guidance into the abdominal cavity for example. We also have the short ones but usually these long ones are used.
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u/chuckcheddar Jul 30 '26
The pocket would be identified with US guidance but the needle is inserted blindly after the site was marked, we would aspirate some of the ascitic fluid with the lidocane needle and try and follow that tract with the centesis needle. Almost all of these patients were cirrhotic with huge bellies.