We need you! Join our contributor community and become a WikEM editor through our open and transparent promotion process.
Procedures in patients with coagulopathies
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Evidence is mostly retrospective studies or case reports
- Clinical practice should account for totality of circumstances, including operator experience
Cirrhosis[1]
- INR is a poor marker of coagulation in cirrhosis
- Risk of post-procedure bleeding for minimally invasive procedures ~20% in cirrhotics
- Each 100 cc infusion of plasma increases portal venous pressure by 1 mmHg (normal pressure 5-10 mmHg)
- Correction of elevated INR in cirrhosis leads to unnecessary volume expansion
- PT/INR only measures the procoagulant pathway and does not detect anticoagulant pathway (protein C and S, antithrombin)
- Thus, cirrhotic patients may be hypercoagulable despite high INR due to natural anticoagulant deficiencies[2]
- Do not use PT/INR to risk stratify liver disease patients
- Rather use target platelet count with goal > 50,000 uL and fibrinogen level > 120 mg/dL
Central Line
Central line if coagulopathic
- Preferentially use a compressible site such as the femoral location (avoid the IJ and subclavian if possible)
- No benefit to giving FFP unless artery is punctured[3]
- However, consider giving FFP if patient has hemophilia[4]
Lumbar Puncture
Lumbar puncture if coagulopathic
- Tranfuse if platelets <25,000[5][6]
- INR >1.5
- Hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, other coagulopathies
- If hemophiliac, replace factor before LP
Paracentesis
Paracentesis if coagulopathic
- Coagulation studies are NOT required before performance of the procedure[7]
- Incidence of clinically significant bleeding complications is low even if in liver failure with an elevated INR (< 0.2%)[8]
- No data supports cutoff values beyond which paracentesis should be avoided/prophylactically transfused
- Routine use of FFP and platelets is not recommended
- Procedure is contraindicated if the patient is actively bleeding or in DIC
Thoracentesis
Thoracentesis if coagulopathic
See Also
Further Reading
- Indravadan P. et al. Consensus Guidelines for Periprocedural Management of Coagulation Status and Hemostasis Risk in Percutaneous Image-guided Interventions. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2012 PDF
References
- ↑ Caldwell SH. Management of Coagulopathy in Liver Disease. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014 May; 10(5): 330–332.
- ↑ Brea Lipe and Deborah L. Ornstein. Deficiencies of Natural Anticoagulants, Protein C, Protein S, and Antithrombin. Published: October 4, 2011. Circulation. http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/124/14/e365.
- ↑ Fisher NC, Mutimer DJ. Central venous cannulation in patients with liver disease and coagulopathy—a prospective audit. Intens Care Med 1999; 25:5
- ↑ Morado M.et al. Complications of central venous catheters in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors. Haemophilia 2001; 7:551–556
- ↑ Howard SC, Gajjar A, Ribeiro RC, et al. Safety of lumbar puncture for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and thrombocytopenia. JAMA 2000; 284:2222–2224
- ↑ Vavricka SR, Walter RB, Irani S, Halter J, Schanz U. Safety of lumbar puncture for adults with acute leukemia and restrictive prophylactic platelet transfusion. Ann Hematol 2003; 82:570–573
- ↑ Wilkerson, Annals of Emerg Med, 2009
- ↑ Thomsen TW. Paracentesis. N Engl J Med 2006; 355: e21
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 McVay P. et al. Lack of increased bleeding after paracentesis and thoracentesis in patients with mild coagulation abnormalities. Transfusion. 1991 Feb;31(2):164-71