title: Safety of endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients under dual antiplatelet therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dual antiplatelet therapy has to be used for at least one month after placement of bare metal coronary stents and for a minimum of one year after placement of drug eluting stents. Because of the higher risk of bleeding, guidelines strongly recommend to delay elective surgery until dual antiplatelet therapy is terminated. However, no data are available regarding the bleeding risk in patients on combined aspirin/clopidogrel therapy undergoing high-risk endoscopic procedures, such as emergency endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the medical reports of patients who had to undergo endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) while on dual antiplatelet therapy in our unit between January 2009 and December 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our series, ES was safely performed in eight consecutive patients on dual antiplatelet therapy with no evidence of bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ES may be safely performed in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdel Samie A
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vöhringer
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Theilmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin