I need a minor operation requiring anaesthetic.
I am on edoxaban. My consultant recommends taking the last one on the morning 3 days before the operation and recommencing 48 hours after.
This is 4 to 5 days without an anticoagulant.
Any thoughts please?
Refer to your cardiologist for advice. I had a revision of my Pacemaker in June - 3+ hours & only stopped Apixaban the morning of the op.
I think a lot of general surgeons are far more frightened of bleeds & don’t fully understand the risk for us Affibers.
That advice is from a top cardiologist.
He says the risk of a stroke over that period is extremely small.
I agree with CD here. General guidelines are don't take the one the day of the op and start again next day. The half life is very short which is why these new drugs are so useful.
Yes that's what I thought but he has reiterated the advice 3 times hence my question here.
Ask him if he is happy to put that in writing so you can sue him if you do stroke!
Good one!
I've decided to postpone the operation as I want to keep the edoxaban going so I can have possibly a cardioversion early next year.
That sounds sensible.
Trouble with af is that it doesn't understand sensible!
I can't have the operation until my pulse comes down to about 80 average. In the last 5 weeks dose altered from 1.25 to ten mg bisopropol and it's down to avg. 90.
Got 3 weeks to stabilise at 80.
NB. These forums are amazing every day somebody has a happy or sad tale.
Shakespeare would love them...
I don't know what the statistics on chance of a bleed but the anaesthetic needle is going in adjacent to eye. Dodgy area to get a bleed in.
I am puzzled though as I thought noacs where quick on off and so could just be missed on the day of the operation seems not.
Excellent information on statistics thanks!
I went thru 2 surgeries a year ago that I ended up off anticoagulation about 2 weeks and most recently had a knee replacement twice in a 60 day window and was off again for about two weeks all together. Fortunately, I didnt have any problems .
That's very interesting! So looks like one can be off it for several days or more.
Thanks
I think its a risk but how much risk , who knows. Ive not had any a fib in the last 19 mo so that probably is a plus
True
In the past I developed a clot in the LA due to being under anti coagulated for a few days because of an op.
Oh wow. I can postpone the operation near the eye till after cardioversion. The blood test is a follow on one 6 weeks after the first.
I will have to ring the blood clinic to see what they say they must get thousands of people on anticoagulants.
Also my GP knows I am fully anticoagulated and yet just texted asking for a blood test. I have no way of contacting him to query it.
Ta for your very relevant information.
The test could be for liver and kidney function.
True but then not related to a possible cardioversion operation?
A cardioversion is a procedure not an operation. But because you are having a GA, maybe.
Accepted. Excuse? 5 week newbie
We are all learning. Just some further along the road 
The consultants 5 days includes before and after the op. Specifically:
My consultant recommends taking the last one on the morning 3 days before the operation and recommencing 48 hours after.
This is 4 to 5 days without an anticoagulant
Your consultant sounds like he is still living in warfarin land. How old is he? Sounds like some retraining needed.
Oh dear that's not what I wanted to hear!
Don't be afraid to question the consultants. I think I would be asking him what his advice would be if you were on warfarin. If it is the same, you have your answer. ....because of course it shouldnt be.
Recently out of hospital
Stopped rivaroxiban 48 hours before admission on 18th November
6 hour operation on 18th then another couple of hours opened up again due to complications
Developed a superbug so was isolated in HDU for about 17 days I think, released last. Friday 13th to home and community care
Back on rivaroxiban on 10th Dec
In the interim I had injections to stop blood clots/ strokes.
At its worst the monitors indicated HR of 140 plus.
My conditions at time ?
Pancreatitis with pre cancer- AF and Bronchiectasis, hopefully only the last 2 now
I was confident that all involved took utmost care re AF complications
Hope all goes well for you
That's a good Xmas story!
Ablation Operation. Recover time?
My AF and my spinal operation.
Knee Operation
edoxaban 
