Perioperative Safety of Bladder Hydrodistention in Patients on Antithrombotic Therapy

Bladder hydrodistention (BH) is commonly used to diagnose and treat patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), but the overall assessment of bleeding complications for patients taking antithrombotics is lacking. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate if perioperative complications were more common in patients with IC/BPS receiving antithrombotic therapy after BH. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed patients with IC/BPS who underwent hydrodistention during January 2010 and May 2021. Patients with and without antithrombotic drugs were identified and grouped, and their medical records were reviewed. Perioperative data and symptom scores were assessed. The rates of complications in the 2 groups were recorded at 3 months and at the last visit postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 387 patients were eventually included. Among them, 29 (7.5%) patients were receiving systemic antithrombotic therapy and 358 (92.5%) were not. Compared with the non-antithrombotic group, patients receiving antithrombotic therapy demonstrated a longer hospital stay (P = 0.033) and a longer catheterization time (P = 0.034). Moreover, the patients with antithrombotic drugs had increased odds of bladder tamponade (odds ratio, 6.76; P = 0.019) and urinary retention (odds ratio, 5.79; P = 0.033) both 3 months postoperatively and last follow-up, but this is not statistically different between patients with and without Hunner lesions. No thromboembolic events were identified during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Although a small number of patients with IC/BPS needed anticoagulants, longer hospital stays, longer catheterization time, and increased odds of bladder tamponade and urinary retention were observed in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy. Still, a comprehensive management scheme to balance bleeding complications and antithrombotic agents is needed for individuals.