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Is chest tube insertion with ultrasound guidance safe in patients using clopidogrel?
Author(s) -
ABOUZGHEIB WISSAM,
SHWEIHAT YOUSEF R.,
MEEIKHIL,
BARTTER THADDEUS
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2012.02230.x
Subject(s) - medicine , clopidogrel , contraindication , ultrasound , chest tube , tube (container) , thromboelastography , surgery , radiology , cardiology , platelet , myocardial infarction , pneumothorax , mechanical engineering , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Background and objective: Drainage of the pleural space is a common procedure. The safety of chest tube insertion in patients using clopidogrel has not been investigated. Methods: Ultrasound‐guided chest tube insertions performed on 24 patients who were being actively treated with clopidogrel were retrospectively reviewed. Results: No excessive bleeding occurred in any of these patients. Conclusions: Given the known effects of clopidogrel on platelet function, these results were interpreted as indicating that clopidogrel therapy is a relative but not an absolute contraindication to chest tube insertion, if an experienced operator places a small‐bore tube under ultrasound guidance.