Abstract
Purpose: To study the occurrence of bleeding complications in patients with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <20x103/µL) subjected to ultrasound-guided central venous access (UG-CVA) while receiving or not routine prophylactic platelet transfusion (PPLT).Research Question: What is the frequency of bleeding complications related to the placement of ultrasound-guided central venous access in patients with severe thrombocytopenia between 2011 and 2019 at high complexity hospital?Methods: A total of 221 patients with severe thrombocytopenia subjected to UG-CVA from January 2.011 to November 2.019 were selected. They were classified as positive (P-PPLT) or negative (N-PPLT) recipients of PPLT. Then, P-PPLT (n=72) were 1:1 propensity matched to N-PPLT based on catheter diameter, anatomical insertion site, presence of hematologic malignancy, absolute platelet count and whether the health care provider performing the procedure was an attending or a trainee. Bleeding complications were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) score and adapted to central venous catheter placement. A logistic regression analysis was then performed using “bleeding complications” as a binary compound outcome of major (Grades 3-4) and minor bleeding (Grades 1-2) vs. no bleeding.Results: Seventy-two patients were classified as P-PPLT, while 149 as N-PPLT. No grades 3-4 of bleeding events were identified in the entire population. No significant differences were observed between N-PPLT and P-PPLT for bleeding Grades 1-2 in both pre-matched (53[35.5%] vs. 26[36.1%], p=0.90) and propensity-matched populations (27[37.5%] vs. 26[36.1%], p=0.80). Logistic regression demonstrated that PPLT did not influence any bleeding complication (OR 0.9, 95%CI 0.42-1.92, p=0.791)Conclusions: Bleeding complications related to central venous catheterization in acutely ill patients with severe thrombocytopenia are not influenced by routine prophylactic platelet transfusion when catheter placement is performed under ultrasound guidance.
Real-time Ultrasound-guided Central Venous Access via the Subclavian Approach