paracentesis catheter fixator: introducing a new instrument and a pilot study

background paracentesis is a common bedside therapeutic and diagnostic procedure that requires insertion of a catheter into the peritoneal cavity; however, lack of a specialized fixator for securing the catheter causes frequent catheter kinking and patient discomfort. objectives this study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of a designed paracentesis fixator in reducing patient discomfort and procedure failure rates. materials and methods this interventional study was conducted on 20 patients referred to imam khomeini general hospital for therapeutic paracentesis. a fixator was used to secure the catheter in the experimental group. this designed fixator consisted of an inverted plastic cup with six square-shaped appendages, a cylinder-shaped tube, a flexible silicone hose in continuation of the cylindrical tube, and a connector piece. in the control group, catheter was fixed using tape and sterile gauze. a questionnaire regarding subjective discomfort and overall satisfaction was filled by patients after the procedure. results mean score for subjective discomfort was significantly lower (p = 0.03) and patients’ overall satisfaction was higher in the experimental group (p = 0.04) in comparison to control group. failure occurred in 20% and 70% of patients in the experimental and control groups, respectively. coclusions the designed paracentesis fixator effectively secures the catheter, reduces catheter kinking incidents, and improves patient's comfort and satisfaction.