Abstract
The new guidelines for endoscopic procedures in patients consuming antithrombotic agents have been adopted at our hospital since January 2013. We investigated the safety of endoscopic biopsy performed under continuing antithrombotic agents in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Of the 23,473 cases of normal oral upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed between July 2011 and July 2014 at our hospital, 3,078 cases were taken antithrombotic agents. We investigated the rate of endoscopic biopsy and adverse events. A total of 1,163 cases were examined before the adoption and 1,915 cases were examined after the adoption of the new guidelines. The results before versus after the adoption were as follows : 16 cases (2.3%) vs. 244 cases (17%) ; (p<0.001) for the rate of endoscopic biopsy performed under continuing antithrombotic agents ; 0 case (0%) vs. 1 case (0.4%) for endoscopic hemostasis due to bleeding during examination ; 0 case (0%) vs. 0 case (0%) for post bleeding after biopsy. We were able to safely perform endoscopic biopsy with no increase in accidental bleeding.
