Diagnostic paracentesis in the acute abdomen.

Abstract

The first comprehensive study of the technique was carried out by Neuhof and Cohen (1926), who reported enthusiastically on its use as a diagnostic aid in the evaluation of closed abdominal injuries, acute pancreatitis, and primary pneumo coccal or streptococcal peritonitis. Though no cases were reported in their paper, they also predicted a wider use for the test in the diagnosis of ruptured hollow viscera and bleeding ectopic pregnancies.