How do I prepare for a paracentesis?
1. You will need to have blood work done first to test how well your blood clots. This can be done the day of the procedure. If you have your blood work done somewhere else, be sure to bring the results with you. The blood work should include a platelet count and an INR. 2. If you are taking aspirin, Coumadin®, or Plavix®, we ask that you stop taking your medicine five days before your biopsy. Please check with your local doctor to confirm that this is okay. Count the day of the biopsy as day 6. Do not take the medicine on day 6, day 5, day 4, day 3, day 2, or day 1. 3. Tell us if you have allergies to latex, contrast dye, or medicines. What should I expect during a paracentesis? The doctor will use ultrasound (a machine that sends sound waves through the skin and creates images on a TV screen) to locate the fluid. The skin will be cleaned with soap in the area the doctor decides is best for the fluid drainage. We will inject some numbing medicine under the skin where the doctor will r
