Portable Pump System Expedites Paracentesis Procedures

A novel paracentesis management system removes ascites fluid by gentle, continuous flow, allowing medical professionals to treat patients safely, quickly, and cost-effectively.

The GI Supply (Camp Hill, PA, USA) RenovaRP paracentesis management system is a closed peristaltic pump device that evacuates accumulated ascitic fluid directly into fully sealed bags in one continuous process. Unlike traditional, wall-suction powered paracentesis devices, the RenovaRP is portable, allowing it to be used in a range of clinical settings, with a collection bag system that expedites procedures by eliminating preparation down time and ensuring safe fluid handling.


While traditional paracentesis techniques rely on evacuated containers or glass bottles to drain the ascitic fluid from the abdomen, a process that can take a substantial amount of time and require careful monitoring, RenovaRP uses plastic bags, which reduce the risk of breaks and spills and also eliminates the need to add solidifiers prior to disposal. The pre-assembled disposable procedure kits enable fast set up, improving all aspects of large-volume paracentesis procedures.

“Managing ascites can be a long and difficult process for patients, who may have to undergo hours of paracentesis, sometimes even multiple times a week,” said Luke Johnson, CEO of GI Supply. “The RenovaRP paracentesis management system, including our new procedural kit that was designed working hand-in-hand with medical professionals, improves all aspects of the paracentesis procedure.”

“Renova has revolutionized the treatment of ascites for our patients. They love it because it decreases the time that they are in the hospital--in fact our patients demand we use Renova,” said Rajeev Suri, MD, of UT Health Science San Antonio (TX, USA). “Physicians prefer it because it's fast to set up and easy to use; the nurses love it because they can closely monitor their patients while increasing the number of people they can see. Our entire hospital benefits because with Renova, we can care for more patients, and perform more procedures in a safer format.”

Refractory ascites affects over 100,000 patients in Europe and the United States every year, and is growing at approximately 10% a year due to the accelerating incidence of hepatitis- and obesity-related liver disease. The primary treatment for ascites is paracentesis, a procedure in which a large bore needle is inserted into the patient's abdomen to remove between 5‐10 liters of ascites that has accumulated over a period of a week or two.

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