Procedures · Bleeding risk at bronchoscopy
Aspirin does not increase bleeding complications after transbronchial biopsy
| Design | Prospective comparative study |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Transbronchial lung biopsy while taking aspirin |
| Control | Transbronchial lung biopsy not taking aspirin |
| Population | 1217 patients undergoing transbronchial lung biopsy, 285 taking aspirin |
| Follow-up | Procedure and immediate recovery |
| Primary endpoint | Procedure-related bleeding |
| Result | Procedure-related bleeding occurred in 57 patients overall (4.7%). Minor bleeding affected 5 of 285 (1.8%) taking aspirin and 27 of 932 (2.9%) controls, not significantly different. Severe bleeding occurred in under 1%. |
| Secondary endpoints | Severe bleeding, need for intervention |
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.
The trial authors, in the published abstract
Removed a routine and often unnecessary interruption of antiplatelet therapy before bronchoscopy. Observational rather than randomised, but the sample is large and the effect direction has never been challenged.
Herth FJ, Becker HD, Ernst A. Aspirin does not increase bleeding complications after transbronchial biopsy. Chest 2002 Oct;122(4):1461-4.