PLS ADVICE

[smishra]

hi
MY MOM HAD AN AORTIC VALVE RELPLACMENT LAST YEAR.IT GOT REPLACED BY MECHANICAL VALVE .BUT MY CONCERN IS SINCE BEFORE THE OPERATION SHE HAD MET ONE FRACTURE IN THE ANKLE AND ON ACOUNT OF THIS SHE IS HAVING A SMALL ROD IN THE ANKLE .IS IT SAFE ENOUGH FOR HER TO GET IT REMOVED VIA SMALL OPERATION? .AS SHE IS TAKING HER WARFARIN DOSAGE.PLS HELP ME.

[Darcy Green Conaway, MD]

When having surgery in the setting of a prosthetic valve, most physicians will have the pt come in to the hospital and be put on heparin intravenously (and stop coumadin) to keep the blood thin right up to the time of surgery; this will usually be stopped about 4 hours prior to surgery for the surgery and then restarted after the surgery (coumadin is also restarted)

[smishra]

Thanks so much .So does it mean the surgery of ankle can be taken safely even if the patient is under warfarin.

[ireneo]

From my own experience, before any surgery or procedure the doctors will ask what medications are being taken. That way they know what to expect, what's needed and also to avoid any negative interactions between the meds. Perhaps (this is just a guess on my part) they may ask her to stop or reduce the dosage of warfarin a couple days before the surgery. Honestly, the doctors will know what to do as long as she tells them her health history and list of meds she's using.