Bleeding Complications in Ultrasound-Guided Central Venous Access in Patients with Severe Thrombocytopenia: A Propensity Score-Based Analysis

Abstract Purpose : To study the occurrence of bleeding complications in patients with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <20x10 3 /µL) subjected to ultrasound-guided central venous access (UG-CVA) while receiving or not routine prophylactic platelet transfusion (PPLT). Research Question : What is the frequency of bleeding complications related to the placement of ultrasound-guided central venous access in patients with severe thrombocytopenia between 2011 and 2019 at high complexity hospital? Methods : A total of 221 patients with severe thrombocytopenia subjected to UG-CVA from January 2.011 to November 2.019 were selected. They were classified as positive (P-PPLT) or negative (N-PPLT) recipients of PPLT. Then, P-PPLT (n=72) were 1:1 propensity matched to N-PPLT based on catheter diameter, anatomical insertion site, presence of hematologic malignancy, absolute platelet count and whether the health care provider performing the procedure was an attending or a trainee. Bleeding complications were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) score and adapted to central venous catheter placement. A logistic regression analysis was then performed using “bleeding complications” as a binary compound outcome of major (Grades 3-4) and minor bleeding (Grades 1-2) vs. no bleeding. Results : Seventy-two patients were classified as P-PPLT, while 149 as N-PPLT. No grades 3-4 of bleeding events were identified in the entire population. No significant differences were observed between N-PPLT and P-PPLT for bleeding Grades 1-2 in both pre-matched (53[35.5%] vs. 26[36.1%], p=0.90) and propensity-matched populations (27[37.5%] vs. 26[36.1%], p=0.80). Logistic regression demonstrated that PPLT did not influence any bleeding complication (OR 0.9, 95%CI 0.42-1.92, p=0.791) Conclusions : Bleeding complications related to central venous catheterization in acutely ill patients with severe thrombocytopenia are not influenced by routine prophylactic platelet transfusion when catheter placement is performed under ultrasound guidance.