coumadin and surgery

Thanks to all who responded to my previous messages. I now take warfarin (generic coumadin) for atrial fibrillation. Can anybody tell me what the doctors will do if other surgery is needed. If they temporatily take me off coumadin before surgery, won't that again put me at risk for blood clots deuring that time?

4 Comments

coumadin and surgery

by louqueena - 2007-12-30 09:12:49

Hi.

If your experience is like mine, they take you off the coumadin for a few days before surgery, and have you or a loved one inject "belly shots" of Lovenox (heperin) instead. The Lovenox keeps your blood from clotting, and they may then put you on a pre-op Heperin IV drip in the hospital, and then discontinue it several hours before surgery. You then will have "just enough" blood thinner to keep your heart safe, and not so much that you have a bleeding problem with the surgery.

But the best source of info on this is probably your cardiologist, or a nurse in a surgeon's office in your area.

Here's hoping you won't need further surgery !

Louisa

Coumadin

by pacergirl - 2007-12-30 10:12:35

I was on coumadin therapy for about 6 months during the Spring of 2006. It was an interesting time for me. I could not even have my teeth cleaned! I had to put off some medical test because of the risk of bleeding was too great.
Had I required surgery during this time, my Drs. would have me taken off the coumadin for a specific period of time. The reason I was on coumadin therapy was because I had a DVT behind my pacemaker. It is still there today. I am now on an aspirin a day and I am doing fine. As I recall the risk of a new clot combined with the risk of not having a surgery I needed would be weighed and we would all come to agree on a method of treatment. So yes, surgery is possible, but as all surgeries do... come with risk.
Let's hope you don't require surgery any time soon!
Good luck, pacergirl

Coumadin

by janetinak - 2007-12-30 11:12:59

I am also on lifetime Coumadin for AFib, after an ablation (actually 2) & then PM doing great. I have had two surgies to replace my knees, & cataract surgery on both eyes a month apart & the pacermaker in & then repaced few yrs later. So I have had quite a bit done & I agree with the above comments. The most scary one was the cataract surgery, esp the 1st. The eye doc did it thru the claer portion of the eye rather than the white of the eye. Clear section has no blood vessel to worry about, I understand.

I came off the Coumadin for 4 days or so before each surgery. They did not do the shots but I went back on Coumadin right away (like in the recovery area after PM put in) & then they do frequent blood tests to re-regulate it.

All went well. So just follow what your medical staff recommend & should be OK

Coumadin

by Nuka - 2007-12-31 01:12:17

I am also taking Coumadin and required surgery last fall. The Coumadin was stopped 5 days pre op and replaced with Innohep (Tinzaparin NA) injections until about 10 hours before surgery. This is a short acting blood thinner. My INR was monitored carefully during that time and immediately before surgery.

The evening following the surgery I was instructed to return to my regular dose of Coumadin and as well the Innohep injections were continued for 3 additional days. It was explained to me that it takes that long for the Coumadin to build up again. Because my INR was being constantly monitored I felt, and in fact was, very safe.

I hope this helps a little.

I wish you and all our PM family a Happy and healthy New Year

Nuka

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