Open AccessPercutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy in Patients Receiving Antiplatelet Therapy
Author(s) -
Wissam Abouzgheib,
Nikhil Meena,
Prashant Jagtap,
Christa Schorr,
Ziad Boujaoude,
Thaddeus Bartter
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of bronchology and interventional pulmonology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1944-6586
pISSN - 1948-8270
DOI - 10.1097/lbr.0000000000000023
Subject(s) - medicine , clopidogrel , percutaneous , surgery , retrospective cohort study , severe bleeding , anesthesia , aspirin
Antiplatelet agents have become a mainstay therapy for vascular diseases; yet, it increases the risk of bleeding. The latter has a potential to impact the safety of invasive procedures. A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) at each of the 2 institutions was performed to determine the bleeding risk for patients on antiplatelet therapy who underwent PDT. Out of the 246 patients who underwent PDT over the study period, 20 qualified for the study group. All were being treated with clopidogrel. A control group of 137 patients was created. No major bleeding occurred in either of the group. Minor bleeding occurred in 1 study patient (5%) and in 5 (3.6%) of the control patients (P=0.85). The data support the performance of PDT without stopping clopidogrel if there was a clear and ongoing indication for the antiplatelet agent.