Endoscopy Risks in Thrombocytopenic and Neutropenic Cancer Patients

Endoscopies can be done safely in these patients.

Endoscopies are often needed in cancer patients with neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or both, and clinicians must balance the potential benefits of these procedures against the risk of possibly causing bleeding or infections. However, there is little information to guide decision making, and current guidelines do not provide clear recommendations.

Adverse events within 1 week were retrospectively evaluated in some 600 cancer patients at MD Anderson who underwent 780 endoscopic procedures, including 500 endoscopies in patients with both neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Overall, infection occurred in 4%, and bleeding in 5% (although only 4 patients were felt to have bleeding related to the procedure). The risk for an adverse bleeding event was…

Reviewing Author

John R. Saltzman, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardIterative Scopes

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy; UpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology (Trustee)

OtherVice President of Medical Affairs, 1Globe Health Institute