Dr. Clayton Alexander is an orthopedic surgeon, focusing on upper extremity areas including the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. He has specialized Fellowship training in advanced hand surgeries.
Mercy’s team of breast surgeons and breast cancer specialists in Baltimore help women determine the best breast cancer treatment options available to them.
The Institute for Gynecologic Care is the flagship Center of Excellence in the highly respected and widely acclaimed Weinberg Center for Women’s Health & Medicine at Mercy.
Mercy offers emergency care on the Downtown Baltimore campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (410-332-9477) with access to a trained emergency medicine team, diagnostic services and consultations with specialists.
In case of an Emergency, Dial 911 and follow the instructions of the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) team.
Mercy Medical Center's downtown campus includes our Main Hospital - The Mary Catherine Bunting Center, McAuley Plaza and The Weinberg Center.
General visiting hours at Mercy are 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. Hours vary by floor, please check with the nursing staff or call 410-332-9555.
Paracentesis, a simple technique of removing excess fluid from the abdomen in a safe manner, is offered at The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy. The Institute is dedicated to providing patients with the best treatment options available for liver and GI diseases.
Paracentesis, also known as an abdominal tap, is used to remove excess fluid from the abdomen. It also can be used to remove a small sample of abdominal fluid for diagnosis. Excess abdominal fluid is often associated with cirrhosis and less commonly with heart failure, cancer and kidney disease.
Before paracentesis is performed, an area on the skin of the abdomen is cleaned and numbing medicine (lidocaine) is applied. During paracentesis, a needle is inserted into the abdomen with ultrasound guidance to extract fluid from the abdominal cavity. In people with cirrhosis, albumin is also given intravenously during the procedure to protect from kidney damage. The procedure is performed in our dedicated endoscopy suite. When performed as an outpatient procedure, patients typically go home the same day.
Paracentesis can be recommended when there is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen causing discomfort, or when a physician needs a sample of abdominal fluid for diagnosis.
Dr. Bryan Curtin is a Board Certified gastroenterologist with specialized expertise in gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders.
Smokers who quit have a 65 percent lower risk of a Crohn's disease flare-up and are less likely to need steroids or other medications.