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Thromb Haemost 1999; 81(03): 378-381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614481
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Is a Prolonged Bleeding Time Associated with an Increased Risk of Hemorrhage after Liver Biopsy?

Kirsten Muri Boberg
1   From the Medical Department A, Oslo, Norway
,
Frank Brosstad
1   From the Medical Department A, Oslo, Norway
,
Thore Egeland
2   Center of Clinical Epidemiology, Oslo, Norway
,
Tor Egge
3   Department of Radiology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
,
Erik Schrumpf
1   From the Medical Department A, Oslo, Norway
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received18 September 1998

Accepted after revision30 November 1998

Publication Date:
09 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Bleeding time determination is not advised as a general preoperative hemostasis screening test, but it might be useful in some patient groups. Patients referred for liver biopsy frequently have coagulation disturbances and are at risk of hemorrhage. In this prospective study 219 liver biopsies were carried out regardless of a prolonged bleeding time, but with minimum requirements for hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, and tests of the internal and external coagulation pathways. The bleeding time was prolonged in the case of 48 (22%) of the biopsies. Significant bleeding as defined by a hemoglobin decrease of ≥2.0 g/dl occurred in nine patients. Three of these patients were bone marrow transplanted. Patients with a prolonged bleeding time carried a five times higher risk of bleeding (odds ratio = 5.0; confidence interval = 1.1-21.8; p = 0.019). We conclude that the bleeding time may give additional information on the risk of bleeding in some patient groups undergoing liver biopsy.

 

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