The Ascitic Tap

Chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine

With plenty of sterile gauze

1% lignocaine in a 5mL syringe

Simple needle (diagnostic) or cannula (therapeutic)

Small island dressing

Sharps disposal bin close by

Lab request form, patient labels

Patient supine with abdomen exposed

Left lower quadrant

Using ultrasound to identify an area of maximum fluid

Using skin marking pen

Open all required sterile equipment onto field

Decontaminate a large area with chlorhexidine or iodine

Place everything in the order it will be used

Create a small wheal over the site then inject through the whole insertion tract

Through the marked site, until flashback of ascitic fluid

25 - 50mL depending on desired tests

Assistant to fill specimen containers

If indicated

Remove large volumes using collection system

Dispose of sharps and other waste

Label the collection tubes and send to the lab

From Insertion site

From insertion site or into abdomen

Bladder or bowel