Palliative long-term abdominal drains vs. large volume paracentesis for refractory ascites secondary to cirrhosis: protocol for a definitive randomised controlled trial (REDUCe2 study).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ascites remains the most common complication of cirrhosis and a frequent reason for hospitalisation in advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD). Ascites is associated with significant symptom burden, caregiver workload and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Once refractory to treatment, median survival is poor. Many with refractory ascites (RA) will neither receive a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) nor a liver transplant. Palliative care remains underutilised and evidence-based interventions focused on improving HRQoL are clearly needed. The standard of care for RA is repeated hospital ascites drainage with large volume paracentesis (LVP). Our earlier feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) (REDUCe) showed acceptability of palliative tun

SUBMITTER: Haddadin Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12139341 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature