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Albumin and paracentisis

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Posted 5/14/2011 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All ... new member here. Spouse has had chronic Hep C for over 25 years and suffers from cirrhosis and ascites. Are there folks out there that have had Albumin replacement at the time of a paracentisis? When is it recommended? Is there a downside?
Posted 5/14/2011 8:07 PM (GMT 0)

Hello and welcome, Mt. Everest.  I know from other's posts that paracentesis should include albumin given at the same time.  I don't know of any downside of albumin, but there are ones of not having it given.

Maybe Rick or Pam will come along in a bit and educate you further.  I have been lucky enough to never had paracentesis, though I contracted hep C in 68-69 and have had ascites (it was managed with diuretics.)

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 5/14/2011 10:01 PM (GMT 0)

Good explanation, Rick!

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 5/14/2011 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you SO much. The last time he had the paracentisis, they did not administer Albumin so we requested it this time. Off to the hospital.
Posted 5/15/2011 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
excellent idea ... Mt E... good thinking..
Posted 5/17/2011 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Rick you are to funny! Actually Albumin is also very important because it helps to keep the fluid in your veins to be filtered through out your kidneys, hence the ratio of Albumin to ascites being important, I was told it can cause your BP to drop and also kidneys to have difficulty working if to much fluids are removed without it. I never ever allowed Doug to have his Taps done without it no matter how little was being removed.........
Sue
Posted 5/17/2011 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
just an added note from Dougs records
Albumin, produced only in the liver, is the major plasma protein that circulates in the bloodstream. Albumin is essential for maintaining the oncotic pressure in the vascular system. A decrease in oncotic pressure due to a low albumin level allows fluid to leak out from the interstitial spaces into the peritoneal cavity, producing ascites. Albumin is also very important in the transportation of many substances such as drugs, lipids, hormones, and toxins that are bound to albumin in the bloodstream. Once the drug or other substance reaches the liver, it is detached from the albumin and made less toxic by conversion to a water-soluble form that can be excreted.
Sue
Posted 5/17/2011 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I was hospitalized for a week, shortly before my transplant. There was no fluid in my belly (they tried paracentisis to no avail), but my legs were so swollen that they wouldn't bend and I was in terrible pain. My pcp allowed me a half liter of fluid a day, while giving me IV albumin, lasix and another diuretic. I had to pee in a bottle so they could keep track of how much fluid I was ridding myself of. Six days later, my weight had come from 177 (I never weighed that much before) to 150. I walked out of the hospital, feeling better than I had in a year. Three days later, I got the call for a transplant.
Posted 5/17/2011 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Rick, Albumin is only made by the liver, it is kind of like say a glue...... it holds on to all the fluids, meds, toxins etc to it then once it gets back through the system to the liver it allows the liver to break it down, some of this breakdown is then used by the body or reduced to fluids to be passed to the kidneys to get rid of. Your liver needs protien to produce Albumin but a compromised liver cant process all protiens and you are restricted on your protiens in your diet, hence another roller coaster of liver problems. Albumin keeps the fluids in your blood....low albumin and the fluids become free to seep everywhere it shouldnt be. If you dont have enough fluid in your blood it causes your kidneys to fail as they actually need to maintain some fluid through the blood source... Did this help or confuse more
Sue
Posted 5/17/2011 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Sue,
Thanks for explaining...but still confused!

Ack! This is why I am not a doctor!

Also, just brings to focus how complex and important the liver is. Until my husband was ill, I had no idea of all the functions the liver performs.

Emma
Posted 5/17/2011 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Shadows Ghost thanks for the explanations... I found them very informative... Sandia
Posted 5/17/2011 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
LOL, Rick!!! I think as long as the name is not said 3 times, we should be okay...LOL!!

We have not personally experienced issues with paracentesis or albumin but I do hear alot of folks say it is a must to have the albumin. We have experienced ascites, but it was controlled with diuretics.

Mer
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