INTRODUCTION: The goals of the study were to test the value of coagulation tests to predict bleeding events during fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and to identify risk factors. METHODS: A monocentric prospective study of 426 procedures performed by one physician was realized. A standardized questionnaire and coagulation tests including prothrombine time, activated cephaline time and platelets counts were performed before the procedure. Bleeding events, defined by a loss of more than 50 ml of blood, were recorded for all patients. RESULTS: 44 patients (10.3%) had bleeding events, modifying the procedure in 19 cases. No death occurred following FOB during the study. Among the 17 patients with abnormalities on coagulation test before FOB, only one had significant bleeding. Two risk factors were found as predictors of bleeding events: nose or gum bleeding (OR=4.99, CI (95%) [2.6-9.5]; p<0.001) and left cardiac failure (OR=4.53, CI (95%) [1.7-12.1]; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study shows that abnormalities on coagulation tests are not predictive for bleeding events. Nose or gum bleeding and left cardiac failure may be risk factors for bleeding events during FOB.
INTRODUCTION: The goals of the study were to test the value of coagulation tests to predict bleeding events during fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and to identify risk factors. METHODS: A monocentric prospective study of 426 procedures performed by one physician was realized. A standardized questionnaire and coagulation tests including prothrombine time, activated cephaline time and platelets counts were performed before the procedure. Bleeding events, defined by a loss of more than 50 ml of blood, were recorded for all patients. RESULTS: 44 patients (10.3%) had bleeding events, modifying the procedure in 19 cases. No death occurred following FOB during the study. Among the 17 patients with abnormalities on coagulation test before FOB, only one had significant bleeding. Two risk factors were found as predictors of bleeding events: nose or gum bleeding (OR=4.99, CI (95%) [2.6-9.5]; p<0.001) and left cardiac failure (OR=4.53, CI (95%) [1.7-12.1]; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study shows that abnormalities on coagulation tests are not predictive for bleeding events. Nose or gum bleeding and left cardiac failure may be risk factors for bleeding events during FOB.