Abstract

To investigate whether paracentesis could be an alternative therapy for ascites, 117 cirrhotics with tense ascites were randomly allocated into two groups.Fifty-eight patients (group 1) were treated with paracentesis (4-6 L/day until disappearance of ascites) and intravenous albumin infusion [40 g after each tap).Fifty-nine patients [group 2) were treated with spironolactone (200-400 mg/day) plus furosemide (40-240 mg/dayJ.Patients from group 2 not responding to diuretics were treated with a LeVeen shunt.After disappearance of ascites, patients from both groups were discharged from hospital and were instructed to take diuretics.Patients developing tense ascites during follow-up were readmitted to hospital and treated according to their initial schedule.Paracentesis was effective in elim-