Apixaban and knee replacement - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Apixaban and knee replacement

4chickens profile image
11 Replies

Hi I’m due for a knee replacement in June. When I was first listed they mentioned they would consult with cardio. My pre op is only 3 days before the planned procedure does anyone know if they will stop Apixaban them or will I remain on it throughout. Don’t want to arrive for pre op and have procedure cancelled. It’s impossible to speak to anyone in advance. This has all come a little out of the blue as only 3 days ago they informed me it would be another year until I got my new knee.

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4chickens
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11 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Apixaban has a very short half life so even if it has to be stopped I doubt it will be for more than two days (actually needs only one ) so you will have plenty of time.

4chickens profile image
4chickens in reply to BobD

Thank you that’s reassuring

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply to 4chickens

I also seem to recall that apixaban was originally licensed for clot prevention post knee surgery anyway .

TracyAdmin profile image
TracyAdminPartner

Thank you for your post regarding the possibility of suspending Apixaban ahead of the procedure. It is a question Patient Services are asked on a frequent basis.

The answer really is dependent on the procedure that is about to be undertaken, for instance if it is a tooth extraction or major a knee replacement?

The Consultant will be aware that you are taking anticoagulants and will advise whether the meds should be suspended or continued on an individual basis, thus taking into account the risks involved with the planned procedure and the patient.

I am sure all this will be covered during your pre-med appointment.

LordGabriel profile image
LordGabriel

The pre op will sort all that out! Don’t worry!

Nan1 profile image
Nan1

Your post could have been written by me. I saw consultant two weeks ago and told a few days ago that spaces for total knee replacement in May after being told it would be within a year. Yours was one of my queries so thanks for posting. Wishing you well

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony

I would call your surgeons secretary as I was told to stop taking it 36 hours before. I forgot and took one into the 36 hours so they put me to the end of the list and I had my op at 6pm. Luckily I had my pre-op a week before as they found I had a virus as well so had to have a course of medication as well!

Advice after your total knee replacement . Take your painkillers 20 mins before doing your exercises and do your exercises regularly the more you do the better movement you will achieve. Take your painkillers religiously as the pain when doing your exercises can be bad and the exercises are important. I was told I wouldn’t be able to kneel down afterwards and was unlikely to get a bend of more than 100 - 110 degrees but with fantastic physio every week for 6 months post op and the help of my wife giving physio on the instructions of my physio at home I have achieved that and can bend to 120 -130 degrees.

It has been life changing for me as I was at the stage of needing a trolley to walk at all. After the op they put me on a half dose of apixaban for I think a month. Hope you manage to get physio as it really helped - don’t know how this works in times of post Covid.

All the best

4chickens profile image
4chickens in reply to Desanthony

Thank you for or your comprehensive reply. Im hoping to get physio but who knows. Instead of anyone visiting to measure for equipment I’ve been sent a form which I have to complete myself with all measurements and leg types of hard and soft furniture in the home, I feel confident to do this partly due to my previous employment, but feel for others who may not. If physio isn’t available on the good old NHS I’m going to pay for it privately for a few weeks just to hopefully achieve the best outcome possible. All the anxiety isn’t helping my AF I feel like I’m walking a tightrope at the moment.

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony in reply to 4chickens

Yes. It’s good that you are confident and able to do these things and would be able and willing to pay for physio if necessary. The main thing is to do your exercises as often as you can and really push yourself to the limits - it will be painful but you will reap the benefits.

4chickens profile image
4chickens

An update I’ve changed the procedure date for my knee replacement due to a family wedding. and there is now 15 days between pre op and surgery. As suggested I rang the orthopaedic dept as suggested re apixaban and got got a very curt person on the phone who declined to answer if they had consulted with cardiology, when asked about apixaban she again was extremely rude and stated that I would stop it 10 days before, I did question this and this just added to her rudeness, with her telling me they were the experts and don’t have the surgery if I don’t like it. I’ve looked on the nice guidelines and BobD was spot on at 48hrs.At least there is now 15 days in between pre op and procedure and when I go hopefully it will be clearer. Sorry for the rant but it dismays me when staff are rude in what I consider to be a caring profession, I would of been distressed if I thought I’d upset someone unnecessarily now or when working in the NHS.

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony in reply to 4chickens

Oh dear. There is no need to be so rude. They will tell you at the pre op and now there will be plenty of time. Did you ask the person’s name. We always do in case we need to change any details or some details we give have not been passed on. We rarely have to complain but often do write letters saying how good someone was when dealing with us. This time I would definitely complain.

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