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Is chest tube insertion with ultrasound guidance safe in patients using clopidogrel?

Wissam Abouzgheib1, Yousef R Shweihat, Nikhil Meena

  • 1Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey 08103, USA. abouzgheib-wissam@cooperhealth.edu

Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)
|July 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Chest tube insertion is safe for patients on clopidogrel, a medication affecting platelet function. Ultrasound guidance and small tubes minimize bleeding risks in this patient group.

Area of Science:

  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Interventional Pulmonology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Pleural space drainage is a frequent medical procedure.
  • The safety of chest tube insertion in patients taking clopidogrel remains unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety of chest tube insertion in patients actively treated with clopidogrel.
  • To determine if clopidogrel poses a contraindication for chest tube placement.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 24 patients undergoing ultrasound-guided chest tube insertion.
  • All patients were actively receiving clopidogrel therapy.

Main Results:

  • No instances of excessive bleeding were observed in the study cohort.
  • Ultrasound guidance facilitated safe chest tube insertion.

Conclusions:

  • Clopidogrel therapy is a relative, not absolute, contraindication for chest tube insertion.
  • Experienced operators using small-bore tubes under ultrasound guidance can safely perform the procedure in patients on clopidogrel.
Abstract

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