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Patients with abnormal coagulation lab results often receive transfusions before undergoing thoracentesis, despite substantial observational evidence that transfusion is not beneficial and imparts potential risk. A recent consensus guideline (J Vasc Interv Radiol 2012; 23:727) based on expert opinion recommends prethoracentesis platelet transfusion in patients with platelet counts <50,000 /µL and vitamin K or fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in those with international normalized ratios (INRs) >2.0. Researchers examined complications in 1009 ultrasound-guided thoracenteses performed on patients with INRs >1.6, platelet counts <50,000 /µL, or both. Procedures were performed by experienced radiologists, by supervised radiology residents, or by ultra…