Aspirin does not increase bleeding complications after transbronchial biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was performed to determine whether the risk of bleeding after transbronchial lung biopsy is increased in patients taking aspirin.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
After excluding patients with other coagulation problems, 1,217 patients who had undergone transbronchial lung biopsy during a prospective 1.5-year study period were included in this study. The use of aspirin was not discontinued before the procedure. Two hundred eighty-five patients (23%) had consumed aspirin within 24 h of the procedure, and most of them (82%) used aspirin on a daily basis. Transbronchial biopsies were performed, and the bleeding incidence was compared between the groups.


RESULTS
A total of 57 patients (4.7%) experienced procedure-related bleeding. Minor bleeding occurred in 5 of 285 patients (1.8%) taking aspirin and in 27 of 932 control patients (2.9%; not significant). Moderate bleeding was seen in 3 of 285 patients (1.1%) in the aspirin group and in 13 of 932 patients (1.4%) in the control group (not significant). Major bleeding occurred in only 9 patients, 2 of 285 (0.9%) in the aspirin group and 7 of 932 (0.8%) in the control group (not significant). All bleeding was controlled by endoscopic means, and there were no fatalities and no need for blood transfusions.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the risk of severe bleeding after transbronchial lung biopsy is small (ie, < 1%) and that the use of aspirin is not associated with any increased risk of bleeding.
Herth
Felix J F
FJ
Department of Interdisciplinary Endoscopy, Thoraxklinik, Heidelberg, Germany.
Becker
H D
HD
Ernst
Armin
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin