Gastrointestinal endoscopy and the patient with a risk of bleeding disorder

Causes of an elevated international normalized ratio in the intensive care unit and the implications for plasma transfusion

BACKGROUND

The presence of an elevated international normalized ratio (INR) is common in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), but the cause rarely determined. These patients are at risk to receive prophylactic plasma prior to invasive procedures.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Samples from patients with an INR of 1.5 or greater were frozen and subsequently thawed and assayed for procoagulant and anticoagulant clotting factors and anti-Xa to determine the likely cause of the INR. Samples showing a low FVII, FX, PC, and PS were categorized as a vitamin K deficiency pattern. Samples showing a low FV, low or normal fibrinogen, and high FVIII were categorized as a liver disease pattern. Samples showing an anti-Xa >0.01 IU/ml were assayed for anti-Xa DOACs. Samples which could not be categorized were grouped as equivocal.

RESULTS

A total of 48 samples were obtained over a 6-month period. Nineteen showed a Vitamin K deficiency pattern, 17 a liver disease pattern, 7 showed an anti-Xa DOAC and 5 were equivocal. High FVIII and D-dimers and reduced levels of the anticoagulant proteins were present in the majority of the samples. FVII levels correlated inversely with the INR (r = -0. 81), as did FX (r = -0.67) but not FV (r = -0.04) nor fibrinogen (r = -0.15).

CONCLUSION

Transfusion of plasma to reverse an elevated INR in the ICU should be discouraged since such a practice is either avoidable by the use of vitamin K or inappropriate in the case of liver disease or an anti-Xa DOAC.

How do we reduce plasma transfusion in Rhode Island?

BACKGROUND

Plasma transfusions are given to patients with coagulopathy, either prophylactically, before an invasive procedure; or therapeutically, in the presence of active bleeding; and as an exchange fluid in therapeutic plasma exchange for disorders such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. There is consensus that many prophylactic plasma transfusions are non-efficacious, and the misdiagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura results in unnecessary therapeutic plasma exchange.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Beginning in 2001, programs to reduce plasma transfusion in the three major teaching hospitals in Rhode Island were initiated. The programs evolved through the establishment of guidelines, education for key prescribers of plasma, screening of plasma prescriptions, and engagement of individual prescribing physicians for out-of-guidelines prescriptions with modification or cancellation. Establishment of an in-house ADAMTS13 (ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1, motif 13) assay in 2013 was used to prevent therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with non-thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura microangiopathy. Transfusion service data were gathered at the hospital level regarding blood component use, hospital data for discharges, inpatient mortality, and mean case-mix index, and, at the state level, for units of plasma shipped from the community blood center to in-state hospitals.

RESULTS

Between 2006 and 2016, a reduction in plasma use from 11,805 to 2677 units (a 77% decrease) was observed in the three hospitals and was mirrored in the state as a whole. This decline was not associated with any increase in red blood cell transfusion. Inpatient mortality either declined or was unchanged.

CONCLUSION

An active program focused on education and interdiction can achieve a large decrease in plasma transfusions without evidence of patient harm.

Postpolypectomy lower gastrointestinal bleeding: potential role of aspirin

INTRODUCTION

Limited data exist on the role of aspirin in increasing the risk of clinically significant postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB), which is defined as lower gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage following colonoscopic polyp removal requiring transfusion, hospitalization, endoscopic intervention, angiography, or surgery.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if aspirin use prior to colonoscopy increases the risk of clinically significant PPB.

METHODS

A case-control study of patients with clinically significant PPB at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale and Rochester was performed. Information collected included age, gender, recent use of aspirin or NSAIDs (within three days of colonoscopy), polyp characteristics, and polypectomy technique. The control group consisted of patients matched for age (+/-3 yr), gender, and cardiovascular morbidity who had undergone polypectomy without any complications. The populations were compared to determine the odds ratio (OR) of PPB with aspirin use.

RESULTS

During the study period, 20,636 patients underwent colonoscopy with polypectomy at the two institutions and 101 patients presented with clinically significant PPB. Twenty patients were excluded from analysis because of prior anticoagulant use. The remaining 81 patients were matched to 81 patients who had undergone colonoscopy without complications. The two groups were comparable in terms of polyp size (97%< or = 10 mm, bleeding group; 95%< or = 10 mm, control group). Aspirin use prior to polypectomy was 40% in the bleeding group and 33% in the control group (OR 1.41; 95% C.I. 0.68 to 3.04).

CONCLUSION

Postpolypectomy bleeding is an uncommon but important complication of endoscopic polypectomy. There was no statistically relevant difference in prior aspirin use before polypectomy in the bleeding group and the matched controls.