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stent, plavix, and elective surgeries

72yr old Female[my mom], had stent 1 1/2yrs ago, 60% occluded other side, is on plavix, lipitor [LDL-130, HDL-55], atenolol, is in cardiac rehab, lost 18lbs, but remains obese. She is asymptomatic. She wants to go off plavix to have torn meniscus repair and gyn sugery for stress incontinence. Docs been saying "no" for last six months. My dad pressed them to due repeat stress test to see if she is" OK" , because he wants her to get knee done.{She's in pain}. Stress test was good. Wouldn't a CRP/hs-CRP give us a look at where she really stands? If in the 3mg/l-- 10mg/l range or higher, she is at greater risk for the stent to thrombose or the plague to rupture---putting her at risk for acute cardiovascular events?  If high, get more aggressive in getting her LDL and CRP down and give her meds to help pain in knee.[ She is walking and going to cardiac rehab, so she is not immbolized.] Thanks for your help, R.N., who wishes she lived in same state as parents :}
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much. Your fast.  It is not a drug eluting test and I'll tell her about the aspirin.
Oh and sorry,  I thought C- Reactive protein levels play a direct role in  the pathogensis of the plaque, but also in plaque rupture and is a significant predictor of adverse cardiovascular events.  We were discussing in rounds, that if Tim Russert--Meet The Press, had had a C- Reactive protein level it would have been helpful.  Maybe we are jumping ahead of science and reading too much into studies. We had even read C- reactive protein in the American college of Cardiologists end of year report about C- reactive protein. Wish it was "THE" test, wouldn't it be great. Have a great week and thanks again. Ann
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290383 tn?1193100321
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If your mother had a drug eluting stent it is likely safe to stop the plavix and have the surgery after 18 months of the drug.  She should however stay on the aspirin during the time of the surgery and then likely restart the plavix after the surgery.  There is no test that I know of that will predict her risk  but it should be quite low.
If she had a bare metal stent then she should be fine to stop the plavix now.
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