Complications associated with bone marrow sampling in dogs and cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Comparative Pathology
• Animal Health

Background:

• Bone marrow sampling is a critical diagnostic procedure in veterinary medicine.
• Understanding potential complications and risk factors is essential for patient safety.
• Previous studies have not comprehensively evaluated complication rates and associated factors in a large cohort of dogs and cats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of complications associated with bone marrow sampling in dogs and cats.
• To identify patient and procedural factors that may influence complication rates.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for minimizing risks during bone marrow sampling.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study was conducted, analyzing records from 2012-2019.
• Data collected included signalment, clinicopathological findings, sampling site, number of attempts, diagnostic quality, and analgesia protocols.
• Complications recorded included pain, bruising, hemorrhage, and infection.

Main Results:

• A total of 160 animals (131 dogs, 29 cats) were included.
• Complications occurred in 14% of cases, with pain (91%) being the most common.
• Bruising was reported in the remaining cases; hemorrhage and infection were rare, even in thrombocytopenic or neutropenic patients.

Conclusions:

• Excluding pain, complications from bone marrow sampling in dogs and cats are infrequent.
• No clear associations were found between patient or procedural variables and complication occurrence.
• Peri-procedure analgesia is strongly recommended to minimize complications during bone marrow sampling.