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Colonoscopic polypectomy in anticoagulated patients

Colonoscopic polypectomy in anticoagulated patients WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY Friedland, S., Sedehi, D., Soetikno, R. 2009; 15 (16): 1973-1976

Abstract

To review our experience performing polypectomy in anticoagulated patients without interruption of anticoagulation.Retrospective chart review at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. Two hundred and twenty five polypectomies were performed in 123 patients. Patients followed a standardized protocol that included stopping warfarin for 36 h to avoid supratherapeutic anticoagulation from the bowel preparation. Patients with lesions larger than 1 cm were generally rescheduled for polypectomy off warfarin. Endoscopic clips were routinely applied prophylactically.One patient (0.8%, 95% CI: 0.1%-4.5%) developed major post-polypectomy bleeding that required transfusion. Two others (1.6%, 95% CI: 0.5%-5.7%) had self-limited hematochezia at home and did not seek medical attention. The average polyp size was 5.1 +/- 2.2 mm.Polypectomy can be performed in therapeutically anticoagulated patients with lesions up to 1 cm in size with an acceptable bleeding rate.

View details for DOI 10.3748/wjg.15.1973

View details for Web of Science ID 000265619800008

View details for PubMedID 19399929

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2675087