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The peril of bleeding after ultrasound-guided thoracentesis executed by radiologists is low, irrespective of irregularities of platelet count and pre-procedural international normalized ratio.

The method in which no rectification or coagulation testing is executed prior thoracentesis can be established.

Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis

The medical research study was conducted by Maitray D. Patel and Sahil D. Joshi from Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ.

The study is available in American Journal of Roentgenology, and the research objective was to recognize alterations in complications of hemorrhage, after ultrasound-guided thoracentesis, on grounds of coagulation parameters in patients.

The data of subjects that passed through ultrasound-guided thoracentesis from January 2008-April 2010 were evaluated, to register the platelet count and international normalized ratio (INR) gathered in 72 hours prior thoracentesis, and to establish bleeding complications that came about after the process. The remarked rate of complication and 95% confidence interval for variance in rates of complication were estimated.

About the results, no hemorrhagic complications could be figured out through execution of 1076 procedures, during the phase of study. Of 822 procedures with INR value prior thoracentesis showed subsequent figures: in 139 cases – it exceeded 2.0; for 59 cases – 2.5, while for 32 cases – it was 3.0, in the order given.

The 95% confidence interval for no deviation in complications remarked amongst two patients’ groups established by particular INR values was analyzed through. Platelet values prior thoracentesis were obtainable for 953 procedures, and the platelet counts were equated for various procedures.

Conclusion: Irrespective of irregularities of platelet count and pre-procedural international normalized ratio, the peril of bleeding after ultrasound-guided thoracentesis executed by radiologists is low. The approach in which no rectification or coagulation testing is executed prior thoracentesis can be rationalized.