How Do Polymorphonuclear Counts in Ascitic Fluid Correlate to Hospital Outcome

Division

Far West

Hospital

MountainView Hospital

Document Type

Manuscript

Publication Date

5-5-2025

Keywords

Ascitic fluid, Length of stay, Mortality, Polymorphonuclear counts

Disciplines

Digestive System Diseases | Gastroenterology | Internal Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are critical mediators in the innate immune response, and their levels in ascitic fluid are pivotal for diagnosing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), particularly in patients with liver cirrhosis. This retrospective study investigates the association between varying PMN counts in ascitic fluid and hospital outcomes, including mortality, 30-day readmission rates, and length of stay (LOS). We analyzed de-identified data from HCA Healthcare hospitals (July 2013-December 2023), focusing on patients aged 18 and older with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis who underwent paracentesis. Patients were categorized based on PMN counts into three groupings to assess their clinical outcomes. Our findings suggest that lower PMN counts correlate with increased mortality, particularly in groups with counts ≤100 and ≤200 cells/mm

Publisher or Conference

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

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