LAUSR

This study compared the variability in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during drainage of ascites in patients with cancer who underwent drainage of a large (5–10 L) or small (<5 L) volume of ascites. We prospectively enrolled 50 patients scheduled for cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy. Equivalence was considered to be established if the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the highest variability rate of MAP was within ±20%. The median volume of ascites removed was 3.30 L (95% CI [2.84, 4.40]) in the small-drainage-volume group (n = 15) and 6.75 L (95% CI [6.40, 7.30]) in the large-drainage-volume group (n = 34). The 95% CIs for the highest variability rates in MAP ranged from −19.60 to −6.23 and from −19.16 to −12.95 (p = .594), respectively, indicating equivalence. These findings indicate that variability in MAP during drainage of ascites is not dependent on drainage volume.