What is a potential complication of an abdominal paracentesis that can lead to hypovolemic shock?

Hypovolemic shock can occur as a potential complication of an abdominal paracentesis primarily due to blood loss. During the procedure, there is a risk of inadvertently puncturing a blood vessel, which can lead to significant hemorrhage into the abdominal cavity. This unintentional blood loss reduces the overall blood volume in the circulatory system, resulting in decreased perfusion to vital organs and triggering the physiological response of hypovolemic shock.

In contrast, while infection is a possible complication, it generally does not lead to immediate hypovolemic shock. Bladder perforation is not a common risk associated with this type of procedure and wouldn’t contribute directly to hypovolemic conditions. Fluid overload typically relates to the administration of excess fluid rather than loss, which also does not result in the same critical volume depletion affecting systemic circulation. Thus, the risk of blood loss during abdominal paracentesis is the primary concern when considering the potential for hypovolemic shock following the procedure.