Purpose: Patients with cirrhosis and ascites are prone to abdominal wall complications largely predominate by umbilical hernia. Elective surgery is indicated in select patients but a high morbidity and mortality rate occurs if it is performed in emergency conditions.
Methods: We present a clinical case of a patient with advanced alcoholic liver disease who came to the emergency room for an acutely incarcerated umbilical hernia. Due to the high surgical risk, we had to discuss other treatment options.
Results: The use of umbilical paracentesis for incarcerated hernia reduction in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites is a safe and reproducible technique.
Conclusions: Umbilical paracentesis could be considered as an alternative to emergency surgery in these high-risk patients.
Keywords: Ascites; Cirrhosis; Complications; Incarceration; Paracentesis; Umbilical hernia.