Pre. Cardioversion check

[Nugger]

What's the reason for the blood check before cardioversion if I'm on apixiban ?

Had 2 overseas without blood checked.

[Hidden]

Do you mean a proper blood test? Possibly to check potassium and magnesium levels to see if these need boosting before the electrics

[CDreamer]

Depends what they test the blood for - FBC would certainly check electrolytes. You could ask your doctors.

- and ask for a copy of the results.

If on Apixaban you should be having regular blood tests every few months anyway to test kidney and liver function - nothing to do with INR testing which is only for Wafarin.

[Spoiler]

I was told they check your potassium, etc and in my case because of warfarin, INR. They always draw blood before cardioversion here in US. I have had 14 in 4 years. Sometimes I get dehydrated also, if I an in afib for a while from all the fluid lost.

[johnMiosh]

I looked at my form while waiting for the phlebotomist, one of the things I was tested for was INR. I challenged this and was told it was routine, seemed a bit wasteful to me.

[lindat15]

On apixiban but not aware of this being checked ahead of first cardioversion. Pretty sure blood checks were only for electrolyte levels.

[hoppy77]

Different Countries = different routines. Different Hospitals = different r outines.

Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Keep smiling!

[ILowe]

It is normal that basic blood tests such as electrolytes, creatinine, urea, and some assessment of red blood cells and white blood cells, is made just before general anaesthesia. Also sugar level if needed. There is probably some options available to the anaesthetist in the actual way they do it. If for any reason something did start to go wrong and they needed stronger medicines, they need to be aware of anything unusual.

Ask for a copy and file it. Keep a file, and track these values. This can be very helpful. For instance, I routinely run a high Potassium level. What counts, is change, not absolute level. So if I notice a low result -- even one which is within the range of normal -- I shout. But a if a high result alarms a doctor I tell them to calm down, because I naturally run high.

[Nugger]

Thanks for the input,got admitted to hospital on 4 may & first thing they do is take blood,ggt liver enzymes 530,normal in no higher than 50 but nothing said about it until I went for a lung function test because I'm on amioderone & the cardiac nurse says have you seen your ggt levels & sent me for blood checking,2hrs later told me they where down to 288.

Saw doctor about it & he wasn't concerned,said I could have had a bug but said we'll have blood checked again in a month 10 july,so waiting to see cos cardioversion suppose to be on 12th so more blood taking on 11th !