Pulmonary oedema after therapeutic ascitic paracentesis: a case report and literature review of the cardiac complications of cirrhosis.

In this study, we describe the development of acute pulmonary oedema and cardiac arrest after therapeutic ascitic paracentesis, in a gentleman with decompensated liver cirrhosis. There was no previous history of cardiorespiratory symptoms or disease. Postmortem examination revealed oedematous and congested lungs with bilateral pleural effusions; in addition, the right heart was dilated and congested. Micronodular cirrhosis was present with histological features of alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency. This is the first study of acute cardiac decompensation after large volume paracentesis. Owing to the postmortem findings, underlying asymptomatic cardiorespiratory disease may have been present. Cirrhosis is associated with cardiovascular complications including cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, portopulmonary hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome which may manifest or worsen under situations of haemodynamic stress. This report thus raises the question whether routine screening for cardiovascular abnormalities is warranted in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, particularly before the procedures such as paracentesis that impose significant haemodynamic strain.