title: Is chest tube insertion with ultrasound guidance safe in patients using clopidogrel?
abstract: 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.
authors: Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey 08103, USA. abouzgheib-wissam@cooperhealth.edu
authors: Wissam
authors: W
authors: Abouzgheib
authors: Yousef R
authors: YR
authors: Shweihat
authors: Nikhil
authors: N
authors: Meena
authors: Thaddeus
authors: T
authors: Bartter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000075202:Contraindications; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000601:surgery; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000379:methods*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine