Objective: To determine the isolated effect of abdominal paracentesis of ascitic fluid in women with severe OHSS on urine production and blood indices.
Design: Retrospective interventional study.
Setting: Gynecology department at the Lis Maternity Hospital, affiliated to Tel Aviv University.
Patient(s): Thirty women with severe OHSS.
Intervention(s): Abdominal paracentesis according to clinical indications.
Main outcome measure(s): Urinary output, blood urea nitrogen, as well as a complete blood count were measured before and following the procedure.
Result(s): Urinary output increased from 1890 +/- 128 mL per 24 hours on the day before paracentesis to 2,660 +/- 226 mL per 24 hours after the procedure. Blood urea nitrogen values were 8.9 +/- 0.56 mg/dL and 7.8 +/- 0.53 mg/dL on the days before and after paracentesis, respectively. White blood cell count decreased from 15.4 +/- 1.1 (x 10(3) cells/mm(3)) on the days before the paracentesis to 13.3 +/- 0.9 (x 10(3) cells/mm(3)) after the procedure. Hematocrit was reduced significantly from 35.2 +/- 1.0% before the paracentesis to 33.4 +/- 0.8% after paracentesis.
Conclusion(s): Paracentesis of ascitic fluids in women with severe OHSS has an isolated effect in improving renal function, as is evident by the increased urinary output and reduced blood urea nitrogen.