Paracentesis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Paracentesis \Par`a*cen*te"sis\
     (p[a^]r`[.a]*s[e^]n*t[=e]"s[i^]s), n. [L., fr. Gr.
     parake`nthsis, fr. parakentei^n to pierce at the side, to
     tap.] (Med.)
     The perforation of a cavity of the body with a trocar,
     aspirator, or other suitable instrument, for the evacuation


     of effused fluid, pus, or gas; tapping.
     [1913 Webster] paracentric

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  paracentesis
       n : centesis of the belly to remove fluid for diagnosis [syn: {abdominocentesis}]