Does Coagulation Status Predict Band-Ulcer Bleeding After Band Ligation?

Endoscopic therapy is typically avoided during acute bleeding in patients who have platelet counts <50,000/mm³ or international normalized ratios (INRs) >1.5. Therefore, transfusions of products are often given to correct these coagulation indices prior to endoscopic therapy. However, whether such transfusions are necessary in a nonemergent setting is unclear. To evaluate whether standard or expanded coagulation indices predict postbanding ulcer bleeding, investigators conducted a prospective study of 150 cirrhotic patients undergoing primary prophylaxis (45 patients) or secondary prophylaxis (105 patients) for variceal hemorrhage.

In this cohort, 40 patients with platelet counts <50,000/mm³ or INRs >1.5 were considered to be at high risk fo…