Background Ascites is a common complication of cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis (Seah, Wilcock, Chang, et al. Palliat Med. 2022;36(9):1408–17). It causes a wide range of often burdensome symptoms negatively impacting quality of life (Ito, Yokomichi, Ishiki, et al. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021;62(5):968–977). Timely paracentesis is associated with reduced mortality and length of hospital stay (Badal, Badal, Nawras, et al. Dig Dis Sci. 2024;69:1454–1466). Many patients will inevitably re-accumulate ascites following drainage, and interventions should aim to cause minimal disruption to their remaining lifetime (McNamara. Palliat Med. 2000;14(1):62–64), such as hospital admissions.

Aims

1. Evaluate the outcomes of patients attending a day case paracentesis service provided in a hospice.

2. Review opportunities available for patients to participate in advance care planning (ACP) discussions and access other services provided by the hospice.

Methods A retrospective analysis of electronic outpatient records of patients who accessed the service. Outcomes reviewed included: participation in ACP discussions, engagement with hospice services and professionals, any required hospital admissions or potential avoidance and place of death.

Results Eight patients attended for day case paracentesis between 2022–2023, and 22 during 2023–2024. Analysis of results is ongoing, however, provisional results show that over 50% of patients completed some element of ACP, including preferred place of care/death and resuscitation conversations. 75% of patients who died did so in their preferred place of care, documented as home or hospice. All the patients reviewed engaged with other services the hospice offered such as well-being, outpatient, and inpatient care.

Conclusion Attending a day case paracentesis service within the hospice setting allows patients the opportunities to participate in future care planning discussions, as well as connect with other services the hospice offers. The service strives to minimise the pressures on primary and secondary care while also benefiting our patients by providing shorter wait times for this procedure. We plan to complete the data analysis and conduct a qualitative review looking at the patients’ lived experiences of using the service.