Surgical Procedures and the new NOAC s

[linc2u]

Just wondering what experiences you good people may have had with the new drugs--and surgery. No antidotes , so what happens? Does one just take a chance or do you have to go back on Warfarin for a while?

[BobD Volunteer]

Why would you? If you are due any surgery then your doctor should be advised that you are on anticoagulants or NOAcs and asked for guidance. In the case of Warfarin it is normal to stop five days before to allow the drug out of your system but since NOACs only last in your blood for maybe 12 hours I expect they would only ask you to stop the day before. You can usually start again within 48 hours although I left it a lot longer after my last lot of cut and shut as there were pipes hanging out all over the place. I think I went cold turkey for about a fortnight actually.

[shirlygirly]

Absolutely no problems at my ablation stopped taking rivaroxoban after

taking Saturdays dose, ablation Monday restarted medication late Monday

no problems..

[Hidden]

I took my Plavix up to and during surgery, then continue on after ablation, the Plavix is my friend now and always will be. The Verapamil and Digoxin are now gone 6 weeks post ablation. I am happy to take the Plavix, but even happier to stop the PAF drugs. Ablation has worked a treat and no longer having problems.

[AnticoagulateNow in reply to Hidden]

Plavix is an anti-platelet soozie, not recommended for protection against AF related strokes...but I'm sure you know that.

[Hidden in reply to AnticoagulateNow]

No as a matter of fact I didn't know that this drug was not an anticoagulant. I was prescribed by the EP s well????

[AnticoagulateNow in reply to Hidden]

It's worth going back to your EP on this soozie - perhaps by phone through his/her secretary. Of course there may be reasons why you can't take an anticoagulant and there may be other reasons why you are on an anti-platelet like clopidogrel (Plavix), such as other heart problems. However, your EP should have explained this if it's so. But if you have AF - and you will know that while an ablation will hopefully keep you free of episodes for a very long time, it can't be truly considered a 'cure' for the condition - then for stroke prevention, it's unwise not to be on either warfarin or one of the three approved NOACs, namely dabigatran, rivaroxaban or apixaban. Having said that there are folk who, post ablation, decide to come off anticoagulants. That's up to them of course but from the tone of your comments above, it doesn't sound as though you fall into that camp. Wisely, in my humble opinion, you would prefer to continue with them. Unfortunately, at the moment, you are not, albeit unknowingly.

Anti-platelets such as colpidogrel and aspirin, are no longer regarded as effective substitutes for we folk with AF - unless, as I said, there are special reasons.

[Hidden]

I take pradaxa stopped 2 days before restarted day after

[Algienon]

Just had surgery and was told to stop Rivaroxaban two days prior so I stopped three days. No problems and have been told to start again in three days time. Don't worry you will be fine

[credimus]

I'm presently on Riveroxaban but I was on Warfarin when I had an operation a few years ago. Off Warfarin four days prior to surgery, however, there was a post surgery problem. The hospital wouldn't let me go home until my INR reading stabilised which meant I was retained for an additional four days.

[Barb1]

I was on Dabigatran and my EP wanted me on Warfarin for ablation. Then they found a blood clot so I am stuck on it for months