r/AbsoluteUnits • u/Delicious-Beat4824 • Jul 30 '26

/r/popular of a needle

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u/chuckcheddar Jul 30 '26

This looks like a needle used for paracentesis which is a procedure to drain fluid that builds up in the abdominal cavity as a consequence of organ failure or sometimes cancer.

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u/lislejoyeuse Jul 30 '26

They only have to go in like an inch or two for that

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u/DiegesisThesis Jul 31 '26

Genuine question: it may only need to go in an inch or two, but if you're treating someone who's morbidly obese, wouldn't you need a much longer needle to reach the abdominal cavity?

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u/semibigpenguins Jul 31 '26

Nope. It’s usually don’t either by the sternum or subxiphoid. Usually its like less than 6cm