Abstract: Background and purpose: Malignant ascites is defined as abnormal accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity caused by the intraperitoneal spread of original cancer. Ascites-related symptoms seriously affect patients’ quality of life. Therapies for these patients are generally aimed to relieve ascites-related symptoms, alleviate patients’ sufferings and improve their quality of life. The aim of this research was to analyze the effectiveness of abdominal paracentesis and peritoneal drainage in management of malignant ascites of terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: The data from 71 patients who received abdominal paracentesis in Palliative Care Department were collected from Mar. 2010 to Oct. 2012. The treatment responses of complete remission (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were used to assess the effectiveness of the drainage and infusion. Results: The average volume of drainage fluid was 5 750 mL. The mean duration for drainage was 7 days. Sixteen patients received repeated paracentesis. Twenty-six patients (36.62%) were considered effective (CR+PR), and 60 patients (84.51%) got a clinical benefit (CR+PR+SD), while 11 patients (15.49%) were PD. The median relief time for ascites was 18 days. The biological characteristics of the ascites and primary tumor site had no relationship with the effect of the ascite control. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in the ascites (P=0.04) and intraperitoneal injection (DDP 60 mg and lentinan 10 mg) (P=0.013) were related with the benefit. Conclusion: Combined use of abdominal drainage and infusion is still an effective method for relieving symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients with malignant ascites, although the median relief time is short. How to prolong the relief time with few adverse effects for these patients is deserved to be further studied.

Key words: Advanced cancer, Palliative care, Malignant asictes