paracentesis

noun

para·​cen·​te·​sis ˌpar-ə-(ˌ)sen-ˈtē-səs How to pronounce paracentesis (audio)
plural paracenteses -ˌsēz How to pronounce paracentesis (audio)
: a surgical puncture of a bodily cavity (as of the abdomen) with a trocar, aspirator, or other instrument usually to draw off an abnormal effusion for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes

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Cite this Entry

“Paracentesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/paracentesis. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

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