When and Why to Consider an Indwelling Peritoneal Catheter (IPC) as an Early Treatment Option for Recurring Non-Malignant Ascites
Early IPC implantation improves patient outcomes, quality of life, and lowers infection risk.
Refractory ascites is a common complication of liver cirrhosis. When a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or liver transplantation is not possible, repeated paracentesis remains the standard of care — despite the discomfort, infection risk, and reduced quality of life it can cause.
IPCs for recurrent ascites or pleural effusion provide an effective alternative that enables home-based fluid and symptom management, improving quality of life and reducing hospital visits.
In this webinar, PD Dr. Tergast, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Hannover Medical School (MHH), will compare repeated paracentesis with IPCs, as well as conventional IPCs with microsilver-embedded IPCs.
He will discuss clinical findings demonstrating that microsilver-embedded IPCs are associated with lower infection rates, fewer catheter explantations, and reduced hospital readmissions compared to conventional catheters.
The presentation will also include a cohort study illustrating the clinical benefits of IPC therapy in non-malignant ascites, featuring results with the drainova® ArgentiC catheter, made of biocompatible silicone with embedded microsilver designed to minimize infection risk.
The session will be moderated by Professor Dr. Albertus Scheule.
This webinar will be held in EN only.
Speaker and Moderator Bios
PD Dr. med. Tammo Lambert Tergast
Dr. Tergast is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Hannover Medical School (MHH) in Germany, specializing in the management of liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites. His research focuses on risk factors and treatment strategies for patients with advanced liver disease, including the use of IPCs as part of home-based therapy. He has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as JAMA Network Open, Journal of Hepatology, and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His recent work includes studies comparing outcomes of TIPS, tunneled peritoneal catheters, and ascites pumps, as well as research on infection prevention using microsilver-embedded IPCs.
Professor Dr. med. Albertus Scheule
Dr. Scheule is a professor of surgery with board certifications in cardiac, vascular, and endovascular surgery, and a long-standing clinical and academic career in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. He trained and held positions at leading institutions including Ulm University, Hannover Medical School (MHH), and Tübingen University Hospital, where he also served as Vice Head of the Department of Thoracic, Cardiac, and Vascular Surgery. He was also an Evarts A. Graham Traveling Fellow of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, completing advanced training at Children’s Hospital Boston and Loma Linda University Hospital in the United States.
Over his career, Dr. Scheule has performed more than 2,000 cardiac and vascular procedures, authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, and is named as inventor on several international patents, including innovations in pleural and ascites drainage systems.
As Senior Medical Advisor to ewimed, Dr. Scheule brings extensive expertise in minimally invasive drainage therapies, clinical practice, and medical technology development.
Who is this webinar for?
Primarily Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists treating patients with advanced liver disease and refractory ascites.
Relevant for specialists who recommend or perform implantation of indwelling pleural or peritoneal catheters (IPCs)
Surgeons, oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, thoracic surgeons, and internal medicine physicians.
What you’ll learn:
Treatment pathways for non-malignant ascites and how IPCs fit into current clinical practice.
Comparisons between repeated paracentesis, conventional IPCs, and microsilver-embedded IPCs, based on real-world data.
Clinical outcomes from Hannover Medical School (MHH) showing reduced infection rates, catheter explantations, and hospital readmissions with microsilver-embedded IPCs.
A cohort study illustrating patient management and the practical benefits of home-based drainage therapy.
How the drainova® ArgentiC catheter, made of biocompatible silicone with embedded microsilver, supports safer long-term treatment.
