Ascitic weight and girth pre- and post-paracentesis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring weight and girth pre- and post-paracentesis to improve accuracy of dry weight estimation for patients with ascites, secondary to liver disease.
IRAS ID
218747
Contact name
Mary Hickson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background: Patients with liver disease are at particularly high risk of malnutrition. To identify malnutrition risk, it is important to obtain an accurate body weight. This is problematic for patients with excess abdominal fluid weight in the form of ascites, often secondary to liver disease. Measured, estimated or reported weight is recorded on nutritional screening tools and used, along with height, to calculate body mass index (BMI) as a way of categorising healthy weight. Aim: Improve accuracy of dry weight estimation for patients with ascites secondary to liver disease. Method: This cross-sectional, observational study will investigate if current dietetic guidelines underestimate ascitic weight, and if girth could be used to estimate ascitic weight. All participants attending for therapeutic paracentesis (procedure which removes ascitic fluid by a drain inserted into the abdominal cavity) at the Royal Cornwall Hospital’s Medical Day Unit will be eligible to participate. Patients are routinely weighed as part of standard practice before and after paracentesis. Weight and girth will be measured before and after the procedure. Additionally, height and the volume of fluid removed by paracentesis will be recorded. Further data will be collected, including demographic information, and participants reported weight, height and girth measurements. This will be used to gain further insight into the accuracy of using reported measurements to estimate BMI and to investigate if any relevant correlations can be made. Data will be recorded on an Excel Spreadsheet and analysed using SPSS. The study is expected to take place over a 12-week period between April and June 2017. Results: Results are anticipated to show that current dietetic guidelines underestimate ascitic weight for large volumes of ascites. Additionally, girth measurements could be used as an alternative method for estimating ascitic weight.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0023
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion